Incite

/ɪnˈsaɪt/ verb

Definition

To strongly encourage or stir up people to do something, especially something violent or unlawful.

Etymology

From Latin 'incitare' meaning 'to set in rapid motion, rouse', from 'in-' (in) and 'citare' (to put in motion, to excite). It has long carried the sense of provoking action.

Kelly Says

To incite is to light a fire under people—emotionally speaking. The word is often used in law because speech that pushes people toward violence can be almost as powerful as physical action.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.