incite to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "incite to" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward or incorrect in many contexts.
It can be used when referring to provoking or encouraging someone to take a specific action, typically in a negative or harmful way. Example: "The speech was intended to incite to violence among the crowd."

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Citing both a worsening security and economic situation, it added: "Under Netanyahu, laws that are intolerant, antidemocratic and incite to ethnic hatred have proliferated.

The Guardian

He could inspire as well as incite to laughter and was generous with the solid advise of a profound thinker and serious writer.

The New York Times

"The judgment is in line with the case law of the European Court on Human Rights," Mr. Knoops wrote, "which in 2010 held that only when certain statements incite to violence, there is a role for criminal law".

The New York Times

Studying the transcript of the case, Altgeld concluded that the prisoners had not been given a fair trial on the grounds that the judge was prejudiced, the jury packed, and that to convict anyone of "constructive" conspiracy to incite to murder was a miscarriage of justice.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In February, the White House held a three-day summit on "Countering Violent Extremism," which was described as a discussion of "concrete steps the United States and its partners can take to develop community-oriented approaches to counter hateful extremist ideologies that radicalize, recruit or incite to violence".

The New Yorker

By the late 1950s the party's members were engaged in clandestine activities against the government of Prince Norodom Sihanouk, but for many years they made little headway against Sihanouk from their bases in remote jungle and mountain areas, partly because of Sihanouk's own popularity among the peasants whom the communists sought to incite to rebellion.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

Words have power -- to uplift or to tear down -- to inspire or to incite -- to heal or to hurt -- to create or destroy.

Huffington Post

Words have power - to uplift or to tear down - to inspire or to incite - to heal or to hurt - to create or destroy.

Huffington Post

They were then submitted to a paradigm designed to incite them to initiate communicative gestures to the person or object.

Cognitive Development

This policy is meant to increase the cost-consciousness of patients and to incite them to demand reference priced drugs.

Human Resources for Health

They're trying to incite us to riot.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "incite to", consider if a more common alternative like "encourage to" or "provoke to" would be more appropriate for your audience and context.

Common error

Avoid using "incite to" in highly formal contexts. While grammatically correct, it can sound somewhat archaic or overly dramatic. Opt for alternatives like "encourage" or "motivate" for a more polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "incite to" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of prompting or urging someone towards a particular behavior or state. Ludwig provides examples where it signifies encouraging actions ranging from laughter to violence.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "incite to" is used to convey the act of provoking or encouraging someone towards a specific action. While grammatically acceptable, it isn't the most common phrasing and might sound somewhat formal. According to Ludwig, alternatives like "encourage to" or "provoke to" might be more appropriate in many contexts. The phrase appears most frequently in news, encyclopedias and scientific publications. The Ludwig AI also suggests that its slightly archaic tone can lend a degree of formality. Consider the context and audience when using "incite to", and opt for simpler alternatives if a more modern tone is desired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

provoke to

Emphasizes a stronger, often negative, instigation.

encourage to

Focuses on providing support or motivation for action.

prompt to

Suggests a more immediate and direct cause-and-effect relationship.

motivate to

Highlights the internal drive or reason for action.

spur to

Implies a sudden burst of energy or initiative.

goad to

Suggests persistent urging, often to the point of annoyance.

instigate to

Emphasizes initiating or setting something in motion.

foment to

Highlights the stirring up of trouble or unrest.

egg on to

Suggests playfully encouraging someone to do something risky.

drive to

Focuses on compelling someone towards a specific action or state.

FAQs

How can I use "incite to" in a sentence?

You can use "incite to" when you want to express that someone or something is encouraging or provoking a specific action, often a negative one. For example: "The speaker's words were intended to incite the crowd to violence."

What can I say instead of "incite to"?

You can use alternatives like "encourage to", "provoke to", or "motivate to" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "incite to" or "incite into"?

"Incite to" is the more commonly used and grammatically accepted form. "Incite into" is less frequent and may sound awkward to some speakers.

What's the difference between "incite to" and "encourage to"?

"Incite to" often implies a negative or undesirable outcome, suggesting the stirring up of trouble or violence. "Encourage to", on the other hand, is generally more positive and suggests providing support or motivation for a desired action.