Words / C1

in-SYT/ɪnˈsaɪt/

To incite is to encourage people to act, especially in a violent or unlawful way: incite unrest, incite a walk-in. Provoke is wider; stir up is informal. Waiting for midnight is the embargo, not a lobby mood.

Meaning

To encourage people to act, especially in a violent or unlawful way.

Examples

• “Do not incite a walk-in before the embargo lifts; wait for midnight.”
• “Provoke is wider. Encourage is milder and often lawful. A lobby is talk. Midnight is a clock. Hold the door; then brief when the embargo lifts.”

Good to know

Stir people to (often unlawful) action. Wider: provoke. A lobby mood ≠ a lifted embargo.

Near in meaning

provoke, instigate, stir up

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