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
Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 15 May 2025
For even more defense against tired-looking eyes, there’s also a marine bacteria ferment in the formula, which helps quell puffiness.
—Emily Orofino, Vogue, 6 May 2025
Kamila Shamsie
june 20, Literary Hub, 20 June 2025
The agave is fermented with wild yeast and distilled in copper pot stills, a process designed to maximize flavor and authenticity.
—Renan Botelho, Footwear News, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for ferment
Noun
Set against the backdrop of Imperial Russia’s criminal underworld and revolutionary ferment, the film explores the making of the bloody dictator who would reshape the 20th century through terror, war and ideology — and the largest bank heist in Russian history, according to the logline.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 15 May 2025
For even more defense against tired-looking eyes, there’s also a marine bacteria ferment in the formula, which helps quell puffiness.
—Emily Orofino, Vogue, 6 May 2025
Verb
In the lives of writers, the frankly bizarre and incoherent idea that politics and art should be separate has played a key role in fermenting this non-engagement.
—Kamila Shamsie
june 20, Literary Hub, 20 June 2025
The agave is fermented with wild yeast and distilled in copper pot stills, a process designed to maximize flavor and authenticity.
—Renan Botelho, Footwear News, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for ferment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ferment
Noun
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The emotional emptiness can feel unbearable, and the practical demands only add to the turmoil, often leaving the surviving spouse feeling lost and helpless.—
David Kudla,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
-
Bob Vander Weide, then team president and son-in-law to Rich DeVos, was on the outs — the casualty of a divorce from the owner’s daughter and a franchise in turmoil.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 June 2025
Verb
-
News of the plan, which was developed by city administrators but has not been publicly vetted or discussed, has provoked considerable consternation in political, downtown, cultural and preservation circles.—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
26 June 2025
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While rare, there have been cases of attacks on humans when provoked or during spearfishing when blood or movement may trigger their instincts.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 June 2025
Noun
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Natural bacteria like Lactobacillus grow during fermentation and make lactic acid.—
Lindsey DeSoto,
Health,
24 June 2025
-
Rosemary produces this in a Burgundian style by using some whole grape bunches during fermentation.—
Cathrine Todd,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
Verb
-
Business leaders must raise their voices—not just for equity, but for the sustainability and competitiveness of their own industries.—
Leadership Brainery,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
-
The statistics seem to suggest that some students and workers are growing dependent on free AI tools—a usage pattern that might become lucrative if AI companies were to begin restricting access or raising prices.—
Billy Perrigo,
Time,
1 July 2025
Noun
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The Trump administration has pardoned all Jan. 6 protesters and has taken actions against those who prosecuted them for a variety of allegations connected to the unrest.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
28 June 2025
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Turkey vehemently rejects the label, conceding that many died in that era but insisting the death toll is inflated and resulted from civil unrest.—
Avet Demourian,
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2025
Verb
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Target has tapped the promotional strategy frequently in recent years, cutting or maintaining prices on important seasonal categories such as toys or Thanksgiving meal supplies, while also promoting lists of related items as falling under a certain amount.—
Glen Luke Flanagan,
Fortune,
30 June 2025
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Topline The Trump administration sued the city of Los Angeles on Monday, claiming its policy limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement efforts promotes attacks on law enforcement, the latest legal battle centered around the L.A. protests against federal deportation raids.—
Sara Dorn,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ferment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ferment. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.
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