as in turmoil
a disturbed or uneasy state
the city was in ferment as its residents nervously awaited the outcome of the referendum vote
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ferment
Mitzi Nagarkatti, The Conversation, 10 Oct. 2025
In the colon, resistant starch ferments and produces short-chain fatty acids, which may support digestion and reduce inflammation.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 30 Dec. 2025
Pre-bud salmonberries are fermented into capers, cedar tree pods are blended with sumac to create a faux lime juice, and haskap berries gave my morning kombucha its vermillion hue.
—Katie Nanton, Travel + Leisure, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ferment
Noun
This bacteria ferments fiber into short-chain fatty acids that enhance Treg cell function and help maintain gut health.
—Mitzi Nagarkatti, The Conversation, 10 Oct. 2025
In the colon, resistant starch ferments and produces short-chain fatty acids, which may support digestion and reduce inflammation.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
Probiotic foods are fermented foods that can help with digestion and keep a healthy gut, along with improving inflammation and brain health, Shah says.
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 30 Dec. 2025
Pre-bud salmonberries are fermented into capers, cedar tree pods are blended with sumac to create a faux lime juice, and haskap berries gave my morning kombucha its vermillion hue.
—Katie Nanton, Travel + Leisure, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ferment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ferment
Noun
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There could be some relationship turmoil popping up for you now and in the weeks ahead, Gemini.—
Kyle Thomas,
PEOPLE,
9 Nov. 2025
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Amid the turmoil, former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky believes Burrow is wasting his prime years in Cincinnati.—
Cole Sullivan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Analysts and insiders told CBS News the scale of the response to Pahalvi's call could determine whether the deadly, 12-day-old protests fizzle out as previous rounds of unrest have, or grow into a major challenge to the government, and provoke a possible wider crackdown.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
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Intrusive thoughts provoke an anxious spiral as the moon and Saturn oppose.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Better Balanced Blood Sugar The fermentation process used to make sourdough produces organic acids, such as lactic and acetic acids, which help slow the absorption of starch in the digestive tract.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
6 Nov. 2025
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Sourdough gets its signature flavor and texture from fermentation with wild yeasts and lactic acid bacteria.—
Morgan Pearson,
Verywell Health,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Someone who is unable to work in mainstream punditry because his face no longer fits, but is determined to raise standards among those who do as an outside agitator.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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Yet Tapestry—the parent company of Coach—said Gen Z now accounts for roughly 35% of its new customers, helping the brand beat Wall Street expectations and raise its full-year forecast.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Some other reports put the death toll from unrest much higher, with TIME citing a doctor in Tehran as saying at least 217 people had been killed, for instance.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 Jan. 2026
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In a statement broadcast by state TV, a security force known for quelling unrest accused terrorists of targeting military and law enforcement bases over the past two nights.—
Erin Mansfield,
USA Today,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Still, the district put full faith in its current coaches, promoting from within.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Jan. 2026
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The series is part of the theater's efforts to promote accessible, affordable arts programs for the Aurora community.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ferment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ferment. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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