shouted fire in a crowded theater

A form of shout fire in a crowded theater — To say something which is not protected by the First Amendment's right to freedom of speech because it would incite violence, panic or lawlessness.

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Meanings

verb
  1. pastsimple past of shout fire in a crowded theater
  2. participlepastpast participle of shout fire in a crowded theater
Cite this entry
APA

shouted fire in a crowded theater. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/shouted%20fire%20in%20a%20crowded%20theater

MLA

“shouted fire in a crowded theater.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/shouted%20fire%20in%20a%20crowded%20theater. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “shouted fire in a crowded theater,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/shouted%20fire%20in%20a%20crowded%20theater.

Source: shouted fire in a crowded theater on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.