INCITE Synonyms: 100 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'incite' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of incite are abet , foment , and instigate . While all these words mean "to spur to action," incite stresses a stirring up and urging on, and may or may not imply initiating. // inciting a riot

Q: When could 'abet' be used to replace 'incite'?

In some situations, the words abet and incite are roughly equivalent. However, abet implies both assisting and encouraging. // aiding and abetting the enemy

Q: When would 'foment' be a good substitute for 'incite'?

The meanings of foment and incite largely overlap; however, foment implies persistence in goading. // fomenting rebellion

Q: Where would 'instigate' be a reasonable alternative to 'incite'?

While in some cases nearly identical to incite , instigate definitely implies responsibility for initiating another's action and often connotes underhandedness or evil intention. // instigated a conspiracy

incite

verb

in-ˈsīt

Definition of incite next

as in to provoke

to bring (something volatile or intense) into being the rock band's failure to show up incited a riot, as the crowd had waited for hours

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to encourage

to rouse to strong feeling or action the demagogue's fiery rant incited the crowd to riot

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb incite contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of incite are abet, foment, and instigate. While all these words mean "to spur to action," incite stresses a stirring up and urging on, and may or may not imply initiating.

inciting a riot

When could abet be used to replace incite?

In some situations, the words abet and incite are roughly equivalent. However, abet implies both assisting and encouraging.

aiding and abetting the enemy

When would foment be a good substitute for incite?

The meanings of foment and incite largely overlap; however, foment implies persistence in goading.

fomenting rebellion

Where would instigate be a reasonable alternative to incite?

While in some cases nearly identical to incite, instigate definitely implies responsibility for initiating another's action and often connotes underhandedness or evil intention.

instigated a conspiracy

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of incite Cheney became one of Trump's fiercest critics following the riot at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, blaming him for inciting the violence. —

Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024 The first purges of Chinese Americans in towns across the West began spontaneously in response to inciting incidents. —

Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 26 Nov. 2024 Advertisement Carlson described Epps as a principal in a false flag operation in which the government incited the Jan. 6 riot, an unfounded conspiracy theory. —

Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2024 Chief among that cohort is Joel (Jeff Hiller), her best friend and closest confidant — though, in this third season, his still-blooming relationship with boyfriend Brad (Tim Bagley) incites some tension between him and a slightly jealous Sam, who’s morbidly afraid of losing him. —

Samantha Allen, Them, 20 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for incite

Recent Examples of Synonyms for incite

Verb

For family offices, there’s a parallel to be drawn: surveys and polls can provoke different emotions depending on how they’re framed and presented.

Francois Botha, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
That decision would provoke in turn Russian countermeasures, perhaps nuclear.

Shane Croucher, Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2024