as in to provoke
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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Recent Examples of foment
The 2012 publication of Sunken Hazard, a report from the National Wildlife Federation about the potential for a spill from Line 5, fomented public concern and launched an advocacy movement that began with questions about Line 5’s safety and has led to calls for its complete shutdown.
—
Mike Shriberg, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2025
And to those trying to incite violence against us, those trying to foment hatred against us.
—Ronald J. Hansen, AZCentral.com, 22 Sep. 2025
By avoiding the backlash and chaos Musk fomented, can the 53-year-old VC show that a smaller government can be more efficient?
—Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2025
Many of the racist, nativist vulgarities spoken out loud in Paul Thomas Anderson’s marvelous new film One Battle After Another evoke sentiments that, in our world, first fomented online.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foment
Mike Shriberg, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2025
And to those trying to incite violence against us, those trying to foment hatred against us.
—Ronald J. Hansen, AZCentral.com, 22 Sep. 2025
By avoiding the backlash and chaos Musk fomented, can the 53-year-old VC show that a smaller government can be more efficient?
—Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2025
Many of the racist, nativist vulgarities spoken out loud in Paul Thomas Anderson’s marvelous new film One Battle After Another evoke sentiments that, in our world, first fomented online.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foment
Verb
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The one vote against the proclamation came from Board Chair Kathryn Barger, who warned that the county’s action could provoke legal consequences.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
15 Oct. 2025
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Dave and a rotating cast of smart, thought-provoking guests talk about their inspirations, failures, successes, fame, and identities.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Duran had published articles on Tan and his wealthy colleagues, like Balaji Srinivasan, a tech investor who was promoting an esoteric but stubbornly influential concept called the Network State.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Oct. 2025
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Soft platinum coils are delivered into the aneurysm under X-ray guidance to promote clotting and block blood flow into the weakened vessel.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
15 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Foment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foment. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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