as in turmoil
a disturbed or uneasy state
the city was in ferment as its residents nervously awaited the outcome of the referendum vote
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to provoke
to bring (something volatile or intense) into being
the various social and economic factors that fermented the major cultural change during the U.S. during the 1960s
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ferment
Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2025
While recipes may vary slightly, garlic honey is essentially made by combining whole garlic cloves with honey and then letting the two ingredients ferment for weeks to months in a jar.
—Brittany Lubeck, Verywell Health, 11 Sep. 2025
Kate Wong, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2025
The nongreasy, fast-absorbing serum supports the scalp with five different types of peptides and repairs hair follicles with protein-rich bioactive keratin ferment and fermented rice powder.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ferment
Noun
In addition to offering a survey of Khmer cuisine, with its strong flavors and sour ferments, the restaurant also pays homage to Un’s own family, particularly her mother, Kim Eng Mann, or Mama Kim, who can sometimes be spotted working in the kitchen.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2025
While recipes may vary slightly, garlic honey is essentially made by combining whole garlic cloves with honey and then letting the two ingredients ferment for weeks to months in a jar.
—Brittany Lubeck, Verywell Health, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
Other mammals, including elephants and tree shrews, and some birds, such as Cedar Waxwings and hummingbirds, eat fermented fruit and nectar, which contain ethanol.
—Kate Wong, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2025
The nongreasy, fast-absorbing serum supports the scalp with five different types of peptides and repairs hair follicles with protein-rich bioactive keratin ferment and fermented rice powder.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ferment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ferment
Noun
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Regional lenders have been under pressure after last year's banking turmoil, prompting mergers aimed at strengthening balance sheets and expanding into faster-growing markets.—
Alexander Coolidge,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Oct. 2025
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Amid the turmoil the Aces seek their third title after winning in 2022 and ‘23.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Throughout the weekend, McIlroy and other European players sparred with fans, provoking the Irish golfer in at least one instance to yell back at the crowd, while others flashed middle fingers in response to the jeers.—
Anna Lazarus Caplan,
PEOPLE,
30 Sep. 2025
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Yet, as many observers predicted, attempts to extend transatlantic cohesion through NATO expansion ultimately provoked a Russian reaction that a transatlantic relationship premised on economic cooperation might not have had.—
JENNIFER KAVANAGH,
Foreign Affairs,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The original Champagnes weren’t bottled with the intent of undergoing secondary fermentation that would cause its trademark bubbles to form.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
5 Oct. 2025
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Microbes from natural plants like pine cones and nettles added to the milk would start the fermentation process that turns milk into thick, acidic yogurt.—
Amarachi Orie,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The government can raise revenues by increasing the payroll tax that funds Social Security or the income threshold to continue paying the tax or raise the full retirement age.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
5 Oct. 2025
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The nonprofit will provide scholarships and supportive services for families raising children with autism.—
Victoria Moorwood,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Local grievances—such as power outages in Madagascar or rising food prices in Kenya—can quickly escalate into nationwide unrest, amplified by viral hashtags, memes and shared digital culture.—
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
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In other footage of the unrest, two men were seen engaging in a fistfight outside the ICE facility before they were detained.—
Greg Norman , Bill Melugin,
FOXNews.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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To promote what executives described as modern ways of working, Elanco changed blueprint plans several times over the course of half a decade.—
Alysa Guffey,
IndyStar,
2 Oct. 2025
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Spotify has also hastened the demise of the album, as well as a world where the final product is used to promote the tour, rather than vice versa, alongside other pieces of merchandise like a T-shirt or poster.—
Roy Trakin,
Rolling Stone,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ferment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ferment. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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