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
Michael O’Donnell, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026
The brand’s proprietary bond-building complex features honey ferment, which has hydrating, strengthening, and anti-bacterial properties.
—Alyssa Morin, InStyle, 9 Feb. 2026
Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 21 Feb. 2026
Oats are rich in a type of soluble fiber called beta-glucan, which is fermented by gut bacteria in your large intestine.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ferment
Noun
Fischer skillfully braids the three stories together, situating them in an atmosphere of creative ferment and reckless churn.
—Michael O’Donnell, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026
The brand’s proprietary bond-building complex features honey ferment, which has hydrating, strengthening, and anti-bacterial properties.
—Alyssa Morin, InStyle, 9 Feb. 2026
Verb
Fruit flies are attracted to fermenting sugars found in overripe produce and moist areas like drains.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 21 Feb. 2026
Oats are rich in a type of soluble fiber called beta-glucan, which is fermented by gut bacteria in your large intestine.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ferment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ferment
Noun
-
Amidst the turmoil of 2026, the familiar flavor may be just what Americans are craving.—
Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner,
Martha Stewart,
26 Feb. 2026
-
The past two years have been characterized by unprecedented global political turmoil, especially so in our region, which has inevitably bled into the cultural and cinematic spheres.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
For the Mexican government, the battle against the cartels risks provoking violence across the country, as gang members retaliate against the security forces and battle each other.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
23 Feb. 2026
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The play spoke eloquently to its own time but continued to provoke and inform in subsequent generations.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Brewers would stop the fermentation process halfway through so the alcohol never formed.—
William Jones,
Ascend Agency,
27 Feb. 2026
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Kombucha Kombucha is made by combining tea with sugar, which serves as food for the symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts (SCOBY) during fermentation.—
Amy Brownstein,
Verywell Health,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Charlotte raised upward of $3 million for roster construction, program and facility upgrades in December, and will have more than double last season’s amount for the 2026 football team, per a source.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Feb. 2026
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But should the polls in the late spring still resemble those from mid-winter, powerful Democrats may pressure some of the candidates who have struggled to raise money or secure much support in the polls to drop out.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The operation set off a wave of civil unrest, with vehicles being torched and gunmen, believed to be supported of Oseguera, blocking highways in a more than a dozen states.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
24 Feb. 2026
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Southwest Airlines and American Airlines resumed flights to parts of Mexico on Tuesday, following two days of cancellations in connection with civil unrest sparked by the killing of a powerful cartel leader in Mexico.—
Jordan Parker
Aviation,
Dallas Morning News,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Efforts by the Kremlin to encourage more births had fallen flat, Sonin said, because women in Russia did not feel safe and secure, with the low birth rate direct evidence of that and effectively dispelling positive images of the country and war promoted by Russia and state-run media.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
24 Feb. 2026
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Now, with Henderson back in the NFL, Jones got promoted in his place at USC.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ferment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ferment. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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