Synonyms for incite
Definitions
- v. 1
To call into action.
incite people to violence
- v. 2
To entreat an act.
Related words
- Word family
- inciter incitive incitement
- Is a kind of
- enliven persuade
Forms
- Past participle
- incited
e.g. incited → instigated, provoked, inflamed, induced…
Choose the right word
Abet and instigate are now used almost without exception in a bad sense; one may incite either to good or evil. Abet and instigate apply either to persons or actions, incite to persons only; one incites a person to an action.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- induce Moderate exercise in the evening helps induce sleep.
- instigate Feminists instigate women against men.
- goad The shepherd carried a sharp goad for herding sheep.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| incite | steady | |
| induce | steady | |
| instigate | rising | |
| goad | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- fire2, urge1, stir1, spur1, prod1, goad1
- 5 letters
- rouse1, impel2
- 6 letters
- prompt1, induce2, excite2, arouse2, foment2, enrage2
- 7 letters
- provoke2, quicken2, inflame2, actuate3
- 8 letters
- persuade2, motivate3
- 9 letters
- stimulate3, instigate3
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (fire2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- inciter
- Italiano
- incoraggiare
- Español
- espolear
- Deutsch
- anspornen
- Català
- instigar