as in promoting
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in provoking
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Recent Examples of fomenting
Semafor Events, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Questions will now be asked about whether the host team played a role in fomenting the aggression.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
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
The company probably didn't mean to draw attention to the fact that Liquid Glass occasionally renders the boundaries between different parts of a window indistinct, fomenting border disputes.
—ArsTechnica, 15 Sep. 2025
In May, 1978, long after the first unrest in Qom, Farah seemed not to have even heard of the ayatollah who was fomenting rebellion from Iraq.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
The effort kicked off last summer, when 74 fellows (out of roughly 1,600) sent a letter to the Royal Society’s leadership, reportedly out of concern that Musk’s X posts were fomenting racial violence in the United Kingdom and could therefore bring the institution into disrepute.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2025
The hearing itself relitigated the Republican narrative that cities run by Democratic mayors are impeding federal immigration enforcement efforts and fomenting crime within their borders.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 6 Mar. 2025
But a rump of conservative Catholic traditionalists with money and political power are fomenting division.
—R. R. Reno, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2018
Adjective
In the run-up to the polls, media outlets were hacked, several people were arrested for allegedly fomenting violent unrest, and Moldova’s embassy in Brussels was evacuated over a bomb threat.
—Semafor Events, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Questions will now be asked about whether the host team played a role in fomenting the aggression.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
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
The company probably didn't mean to draw attention to the fact that Liquid Glass occasionally renders the boundaries between different parts of a window indistinct, fomenting border disputes.
—ArsTechnica, 15 Sep. 2025
In May, 1978, long after the first unrest in Qom, Farah seemed not to have even heard of the ayatollah who was fomenting rebellion from Iraq.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
The effort kicked off last summer, when 74 fellows (out of roughly 1,600) sent a letter to the Royal Society’s leadership, reportedly out of concern that Musk’s X posts were fomenting racial violence in the United Kingdom and could therefore bring the institution into disrepute.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2025
The hearing itself relitigated the Republican narrative that cities run by Democratic mayors are impeding federal immigration enforcement efforts and fomenting crime within their borders.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 6 Mar. 2025
But a rump of conservative Catholic traditionalists with money and political power are fomenting division.
—R. R. Reno, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fomenting
Verb
-
This tender, wry and thought-provoking story offers a different perspective on looking for love, regret and the ‘what if’ of it all.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Skims is no stranger to bold and thought-provoking products, having previously caused a stir with its controversial line of face wraps.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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There's a naivety and sweetness to them that's ripped away in an instant when the two passionately make love in the barren house, the inciting incident for the demise of their relationship.—
Billie Melissa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
-
That’s the inciting incident of After the Hunt, directed by Luca Guadagnino (Queer, Challengers) and written by Nora Garrett.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Sophia James began a TikTok experiment by posting seven videos promoting the same song to test the platform's algorithm.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Oct. 2025
-
After decades of ignoring advances in data and analytics and mainly promoting from within, the Rockies seem intent on hiring an outsider to be their new head of baseball operations, after dismissing general manager Bill Schmidt at the start of October.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
These compounds inhibit inflammation and may lower inflammatory markers such as CRP and interleukin-6 (IL-6).—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
22 Oct. 2025
-
In the 2022 messages, Jones mused about shooting Gilbert and directed further inflammatory comments toward Gilbert’s family.—
Anna Commander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Still, the project adds another exclusive tier to a venue already marked by VIP enclaves, raising questions about how much of COTA’s most distinctive real estate will remain truly accessible — and for how long.—
Patrick Iversen,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
The key to raising emotionally resilient kids is the ability to repair.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Avdija capped off the incendiary 12 minutes by splashing his fourth trey of the half to give the Blazers a 69-56 halftime lead.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Calling President Trump a dictator isn’t a smear, but an accurate reflection of his incendiary actions.—
Newsweek Contributors,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Prosecutors are citing the provocative act theory, a part of the law that makes someone liable for situations where a violent crime victim uses lawful, fatal self-defense.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Experts earlier said North Korea could conduct provocative missile tests before or during the APEC summit to underscore its commitment to gain recognition as a nuclear weapons state.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
In a dining culture shaped by efficiency and the chase for Instagram-ability, the return to intricate, laborious sauciering feels almost subversive.—
Joel Hart,
Vogue,
23 Oct. 2025
-
But the campaign is a subversive take on marketing in the year 2025, star-studded, social first, and using pop culture as an entry-point for fans.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fomenting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fomenting. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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