Definition

1. Verb:
   • To encourage or urge someone to do something, often something forceful, violent, or unlawful.
   • To stir up, provoke, or stimulate feelings or actions, especially negative or disruptive ones.
   • To provide a motive or incentive for an action.

Usage and Examples

• Verb:
  • His speech was intended to incite the crowd to protest. (He used words to encourage the crowd to take action.)
  • The article was accused of inciting racial hatred. (The article was blamed for stirring up strong negative feelings.)
  • The promise of a reward incited them to work harder. (The reward provided motivation for greater effort.)

Advanced Usage

• "to incite to violence": to urge or encourage the use of physical force.
  • The leader was arrested for inciting his followers to violence.
• "to incite rebellion/riot": to actively encourage people to rebel or start a riot.
  • Spreading those false rumors could incite a riot.

Variants and Related Words

• Incitement (n): The action of provoking unlawful behavior or urging someone to behave in such a way.
  • He was charged with incitement to commit a crime.
• Inciter (n): A person who incites.
  • The police identified the main inciters of the disturbance.

Synonyms

• Instigate: To bring about or initiate (an action or event), often a negative one.
• Provoke: To stimulate or give rise to (a reaction or emotion, typically a strong or unwelcome one).
• Egg on: To urge or encourage someone to do something, especially something foolish or risky. (Informal)
• Goad: To provoke or annoy someone so as to stimulate some action or reaction.

Phrasal Verbs

(This word does not commonly form phrasal verbs. Its meaning is typically expressed directly.)

Related Idioms

• "To incite against": To encourage hostile feelings or actions towards a person or group.
  • The propaganda sought to incite the population against the immigrants.

Verb

1. urge on; cause to act
   • The other children egged the boy on, but he did not want to throw the stone through the window
2. provoke or stir up
   • incite a riot
   • set off great unrest among the people
3. give an incentive for action
   • This moved me to sacrifice my career