as in provoked
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 fomented
Anti-immigration sentiment has flared up following the murder of a 17-year-old girl named Lisa in Amsterdam, a national scandal that has fomented anxiety and anger in a country known for its generous immigration policies.
—
Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 1 Sep. 2025
Still, she and other candidates were held back as speculation fomented for months that Harris was toying with the idea of campaigning for the governor's mansion.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
This concept has fueled unrealistic body standards and fomented weight stigma in doctor’s offices, which can worsen the quality of care people in large bodies receive.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 26 Mar. 2025
The concerns have fomented a crusade against seed oils on social media.
—Matt Fuchs, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025
Floyd’s murder in 2020 fomented a racial justice movement, leading to examinations of police abuse and to Black Lives Matter rallies across the United States.
—Jess Bidgood, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2025
Smith's team also argues his allies fomented chaos in this uncertain time between Election Day and the race results.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 3 Oct. 2024
That’s especially true for China, whose economic health at home and standing abroad are threatened by the global instability fomented by its revisionist partners.
—Antony J. Blinken, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2024
Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 1 Sep. 2025
Still, she and other candidates were held back as speculation fomented for months that Harris was toying with the idea of campaigning for the governor's mansion.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
This concept has fueled unrealistic body standards and fomented weight stigma in doctor’s offices, which can worsen the quality of care people in large bodies receive.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 26 Mar. 2025
The concerns have fomented a crusade against seed oils on social media.
—Matt Fuchs, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025
Floyd’s murder in 2020 fomented a racial justice movement, leading to examinations of police abuse and to Black Lives Matter rallies across the United States.
—Jess Bidgood, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2025
Smith's team also argues his allies fomented chaos in this uncertain time between Election Day and the race results.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 3 Oct. 2024
That’s especially true for China, whose economic health at home and standing abroad are threatened by the global instability fomented by its revisionist partners.
—Antony J. Blinken, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fomented
provoked
Verb
-
In practice, that could mean a withdrawal of political cover for Israel's ongoing invasion of Gaza, which has provoked outrage among European and Arab nations as famine conditions spread.—
Gram Slattery,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The moves provoked legal challenges over First Amendment rights.—
Dan Gooding
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fomented.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fomented. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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