Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense incites, present participle inciting, past tense, past participle incited
verb
If someone incites people to behave in a violent or illegal way, they encourage people to behave in that way, usually by making them excited or angry.
He incited his fellow citizens to take their revenge. [VERB noun to-infinitive]
The party agreed not to incite its supporters to violence. [VERB noun + to]
They pleaded guilty to possessing material likely to incite racial hatred. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: provoke, encourage, drive, excite More Synonyms of incite
incite in British English
(ɪnˈsaɪt)
verb
(transitive)
to stir up or provoke to action
Derived forms
incitation (ˌinciˈtation)
noun
incitement (inˈcitement)
noun
inciter (inˈciter)
noun
incitingly (inˈcitingly)
adverb
Word origin
C15: from Latin incitāre, from in-2 + citāre to excite
incite in American English
(ɪnˈsaɪt)
verb transitiveWord forms: inˈcited or inˈciting
to urge to action; stir up; rouse
SYNONYMY NOTE: incite implies an urging or stimulating to action, either in a favorable or unfavorablesense [incited to achievement by rivalry]; instigate always implies responsibility for initiating the action and usually connotes a bador evil purpose [who instigated the assassination?]; arouse, in this connection, means little more than a bringing into being or action [it aroused my suspicions]; foment suggests continued incitement over an extended period of time [the unjust taxes fomented rebellion]
OPPOSITES: restrain, inhibit
Derived forms
incitement (inˈcitement)
noun or ˌinciˈtation (ˌɪnsəˈteɪʃən; ˌɪnsaɪˈteɪʃən)
inciter (inˈciter)
noun
Word origin
ME inciten < OFr inciter < L incitare < in-, in, on + citare, to set in motion, urge: see cite
Examples of 'incite' in a sentence
incite
Police accused the cleric of inciting religious hatred.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Others claimed that he was inciting violence and should be arrested.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He is inciting racial hatred and possible riots.
The Sun (2013)
His reasons for inciting violence were religious.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He was accused of inciting violence with his biblical hyperbole and then denouncing loyalists when they carried out atrocities.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It turns out that the most effective way of inciting his wrath is by mentioning an incident that took place last month.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It's whether you incite hatred on the basis of it.
Christianity Today (2000)
It's not inciting you to violence.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He admitted inciting race hatred and was close to tears as JPs heard the full content of his rants.
The Sun (2012)
Neither man was on trial for the nastiness of his opinions, but on the specific charges of inciting racial hatred.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Their trade union says his actions constitute a criminal offence by inciting hatred, which carries a sentence of three to five years in prison.
The Sun (2016)
She told the crowd she wasn't inciting violence; just trying to inspire people to get involved.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
There are already desirable laws restricting free speech by making it a offence, for example, to incite race hatred or violence.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
And he should say why those caught actively inciting racial hatred - as opposed to filming it - have yet to be charged.
The Sun (2008)
In other languages
incite
British English: incite VERB
If someone incites people to behave in a violent or illegal way, they encourage people to behave in that way.
He incited his fellow citizens to take their revenge.
American English: incite
Brazilian Portuguese: incitar
Chinese: 煽动
European Spanish: incitar
French: inciter
German: aufhetzen
Italian: istigare
Japanese: 扇動する
Korean: 선동하다
European Portuguese: incitar
Latin American Spanish: incitar
(verb)
Definition
to stir up or provoke to action
He incited his fellow citizens to take revenge.
Synonyms
provoke
His comments have provoked a shocked reaction.
encourage
She encouraged her to demand a pay rise.
drive
Curiosity drove me to probe into what they worked on together.
excite
The proposal failed to excite our interest.
prompt
The recession has prompted consumers to cut back on buying cars.
urge
He urged restraint on the security forces.
spur
His friend's plight had spurred him into taking part.
stimulate
I was stimulated to examine my deepest thoughts.
set on
animate
There was little about the game to animate the crowd.
rouse
He did more to rouse the crowd than anybody else.
prod
a tactic to prod the government into spending more on education
stir up
inflame
They hold the rebels responsible for inflaming the villagers.
instigate
The violence was instigated by ex-members of the secret police.
whip up
egg on
goad
He goaded me into taking direct action.
impel
I felt impelled to go on speaking.
foment
They accused strike leaders of fomenting violence.
put up to
agitate for or against
Opposites
discourage
,
deter
,
dissuade
,
restrain
,
dampen
,
dishearten
Additional synonyms
in the sense of animate
Definition
to make lively
There was little about the game to animate the crowd.
Synonyms
enliven,
encourage,
excite,
urge,
inspire,
stir,
spark,
move,
fire,
spur,
stimulate,
revive,
activate,
rouse,
prod,
quicken,
incite,
instigate,
kick-start (informal),
impel,
energize,
kindle,
embolden,
liven up,
breathe life into,
invigorate,
gladden,
gee up,
vitalize,
vivify,
inspirit
in the sense of drive
Definition
to goad into a specified state
Curiosity drove me to probe into what they worked on together.
Synonyms
force,
press,
prompt,
spur,
compel,
motivate,
oblige,
railroad (informal),
prod,
constrain,
prick,
coerce,
goad,
impel,
dragoon,
actuate
in the sense of encourage
Definition
to stimulate (something or someone) by approval or help