incites

verb

present tense third-person singular of incite
1
as in provokes
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in encourages
to rouse to strong feeling or action the demagogue's fiery rant incited the crowd to riot

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example 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 incites Every day, there’s seemingly some new report or rumor that incites the social media machine. — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 22 July 2026 The rule will also apply to any team official who incites players to leave the field of play in protest. — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 3 June 2026 The catalyst of all the tragedy that Bear incites is the One Wish Willow, a kitschy antique toy that promises to grant one (literal) wish for whoever snaps it in half. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 14 May 2026 Uranus moving into Gemini incites restlessness with conventional routine. — Usa Today, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026 Critics say the former demands the elimination of the Israeli state – from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea – and incites violence against Jewish people. — Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2026 The phrase either inspires excitement or incites fear among adults who are lucky enough to still have their parents and siblings around and still want to hang out with them. — Sarah James, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Mar. 2026 January 20 – February 18 When tension incites change, your presence can be a guiding light. — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 16 Mar. 2026 Renaud hopes that the 37-minute HBO doc incites change. — Addie Morfoot, Variety, 28 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incites
  1. provokes
  2. encourages
  3. promotes
  4. stimulates
  5. inspires
Verb
  • Another question, says Professor Trotti at Ithaca College, is whether a public execution portrays strength or provokes horror.
    — Patrik Jonsson, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Oct. 2026
  • In deceptively plain diction, the hurdle of one love relationship provokes an exploration of desire and belonging.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of provokes
Verb
  • Applied to a solo outing, that approach encourages diners to appreciate the meal in front of them instead of scrolling through their phones.
    — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Jordan says a recent guideline change encourages doctors to diagnose and treat sooner based on symptoms.
    — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of encourages
Verb
  • Knowing the exceptions are happening should be the first step toward addressing those exceptions in a way that supports caregiving staff and promotes quality service.
    — Colin Conner II, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • To support that conclusion, Gates cites a demand in Washburn’s petition to CWP that would prohibit the council from doing any outreach that promotes the role of hunting in wildlife management fully six months before an election.
    — Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of promotes
Verb
  • The glasses project light onto 378 pixels in the implant, which converts those light patterns into an electrical current that stimulates the retina’s bipolar cells.
    — Erica Sweeney, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Observation generates hypotheses; hypotheses lead to anatomical investigation; anatomy stimulates physiological questions; physiology eventually produces clinical trials.
    — Subramaniam C. Krishnan, STAT, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of stimulates
Verb
  • Music from kids’ movies often inspires connection, creativity, and even dance parties at home.
    — Stephanie Ganz Published, Parents, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Choose from one of three sleek colorways and let these headphones become the accessory that inspires the outfit.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of inspires

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incites
inciting
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Cite this Entry

“Incites.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incites. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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