as in to provoke
to bring (something volatile or intense) into being
John Adams's wife, Abigail, told him that if women were not remembered by the new American government, they would "foment a Rebellion and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice or Representation"
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Recent Examples of foment
If the unspoken goal of the administration is to centralize power around itself and create a perception of instability surrounding the status quo, then fomenting mistrust in data is an effective approach.
—
Sheldon Jacobson, Twin Cities, 25 Sep. 2025
It’s not known if Pressley fomented her opposition from her new digs on Martha’s Vineyard or if Moulton has his eye on another run for president and didn’t want to check off that bipartisan box.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 23 Sep. 2025
The 2012 publication of Sunken Hazard, a report from the National Wildlife Federation about the potential for a spill from Line 5, fomented public concern and launched an advocacy movement that began with questions about Line 5’s safety and has led to calls for its complete shutdown.
—Mike Shriberg, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2025
And to those trying to incite violence against us, those trying to foment hatred against us.
—Ronald J. Hansen, AZCentral.com, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foment
Sheldon Jacobson, Twin Cities, 25 Sep. 2025
It’s not known if Pressley fomented her opposition from her new digs on Martha’s Vineyard or if Moulton has his eye on another run for president and didn’t want to check off that bipartisan box.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 23 Sep. 2025
The 2012 publication of Sunken Hazard, a report from the National Wildlife Federation about the potential for a spill from Line 5, fomented public concern and launched an advocacy movement that began with questions about Line 5’s safety and has led to calls for its complete shutdown.
—Mike Shriberg, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2025
And to those trying to incite violence against us, those trying to foment hatred against us.
—Ronald J. Hansen, AZCentral.com, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foment
Verb
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Mercury in Sagittarius provokes your mind to venture into uncharted territory.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
29 Oct. 2025
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His art form is chaos, and the unrestrained fear that chaos can provoke.—
The Atlantic Culture Desk,
The Atlantic,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In 2019, Microsoft viewed the partnership and investment in OpenAI partly as a way to gain a foothold in AI and to help promote Azure’s AI capabilities.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
30 Oct. 2025
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Plus, your purchase also supports the brand’s sustainable cotton sourcing initiative that promotes betting farming practices and protects the environment for extra peace of mind.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Foment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foment. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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