1
as in provoked
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
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2
as in encouraged
to rouse to strong feeling or action
the demagogue's fiery rant incited the crowd to riot
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Recent Examples of incited
Russia’s Vladimir Putin has incited Europe’s largest conflict since the Second World War and China’s Xi Jinping is remaking global institutions in his own image, bereft of democratic values.
—
Chang Che, The New Yorker, 21 Dec. 2024
With the widespread medical advice advocating protective measures against UV radiation to ward against this, the view incited considerable backlash.
—Henry Flynn, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
The Algerian boxer incited mass controversy by competing as a woman in the Paris Olympics despite allegedly being born with the XY chromosomes, which are associated with males.
—Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 11 Dec. 2024
The hit incited a brief but intense melee between the two teams after Al-Shaair was flagged on the play and later dealt a three-game suspension without pay.
—Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 5 Dec. 2024
Words written on the shell casings found at the scene may offer hints about what incited the shooter.
—Hugh Son, CNBC, 6 Dec. 2024
The threatening of reproductive rights in America has incited you to take action.
—Julie Arbit, refinery29.com, 16 Oct. 2024
The cultural historical echoes — an unruly mob out for blood, incited by a transgressive Black man — were impossible to miss.
—Thomas Doherty, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Oct. 2024
Tehran said its attack was incited by the assassination of Hamas' political leader Ismail Haniyeh on Iranian soil in July, which was widely attributed to Israel, and the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli strike last week.
—Shannon K. Kingston, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2024
Chang Che, The New Yorker, 21 Dec. 2024
With the widespread medical advice advocating protective measures against UV radiation to ward against this, the view incited considerable backlash.
—Henry Flynn, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
The Algerian boxer incited mass controversy by competing as a woman in the Paris Olympics despite allegedly being born with the XY chromosomes, which are associated with males.
—Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 11 Dec. 2024
The hit incited a brief but intense melee between the two teams after Al-Shaair was flagged on the play and later dealt a three-game suspension without pay.
—Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 5 Dec. 2024
Words written on the shell casings found at the scene may offer hints about what incited the shooter.
—Hugh Son, CNBC, 6 Dec. 2024
The threatening of reproductive rights in America has incited you to take action.
—Julie Arbit, refinery29.com, 16 Oct. 2024
The cultural historical echoes — an unruly mob out for blood, incited by a transgressive Black man — were impossible to miss.
—Thomas Doherty, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Oct. 2024
Tehran said its attack was incited by the assassination of Hamas' political leader Ismail Haniyeh on Iranian soil in July, which was widely attributed to Israel, and the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli strike last week.
—Shannon K. Kingston, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Incited.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incited. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
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