ə̇nˈsīt, usu -īd.+V transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle French inciter, from Latin incitare, from in- in- (II) + citare to put in movement, summon — more at cite
1. : to move to a course of action : stir up : spur on : urge on
inciting the people to rebel
incited to further effects by his mother's enthusiasm
2. : to bring into being : induce to exist or occur
such behavior is likely to incite retaliation
organisms that readily incited antibody formation
Synonyms:
instigate , foment , abet : incite may indicate both an initiating, a calling into being or action, and also a degree of prompting, furthering, encouraging, or nurturing of activity
his projects for inciting war between the two countries
posters scattered by the thousands throughout the eastern states and Europe to incite immigration — American Guide Series: Minnesota
their tutors had incited them to dig deeply in the older sources of learning
did I see a young lady in want of a partner, gallantry would incite me to offer myself as her devoted knight — T.L.Peacock
instigate implies initiating or encouraging others to initiate actions or feelings, often questionable actions initiated with dubious intention
pogroms instigated or connived at by the government as a safety valve for popular discontent — W.R.Inge
a comparative study, instigated by the director of the investigation, which classifies a series of nonliterate cultures
foment indicates persistent inciting, especially of something thought of as seething or boiling
radicals fomenting a rebellion
race theories are indeed not only a modern invention to explain such group conflicts, but also a means for fomenting them — M.R.Cohen
abet is likely to indicate seconding, encouraging, or aiding some action already begun, especially a questionable activity
aiding and abetting a friend in obtaining money under false pretenses
the general, abetted by the excited aide-de-camp, made a fatal error
the will to achieve perfection, though not so rare as it sounds, is all too rarely abetted by leisure — Harry Levin