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
In my view, the department was unprepared for the type of nuclear conflict Trump might foment.
—
Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Three people with knowledge of those interests said there was consternation among insiders that forcing Maduro out could foment chaos and unrest and impede their access.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
Muschietti touched on this in his movies — the bullying of Mike Hanlon and the hate-crime murder of Adrian Mellon — including the way Pennywise fosters and foments the hatred already lurking in the hearts of Derry’s citizens.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 Oct. 2025
That sluggish growth deepened religious and ethnic fault lines and allowed political opportunists to foment violence, forcing the authorities to focus on maintaining stability rather than spur economic transformation.
—Amaka Anku, Foreign Affairs, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foment
Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Three people with knowledge of those interests said there was consternation among insiders that forcing Maduro out could foment chaos and unrest and impede their access.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
Muschietti touched on this in his movies — the bullying of Mike Hanlon and the hate-crime murder of Adrian Mellon — including the way Pennywise fosters and foments the hatred already lurking in the hearts of Derry’s citizens.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 Oct. 2025
That sluggish growth deepened religious and ethnic fault lines and allowed political opportunists to foment violence, forcing the authorities to focus on maintaining stability rather than spur economic transformation.
—Amaka Anku, Foreign Affairs, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foment
Verb
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However, this year's ad has provoked widespread criticism, with some even calling for a boycott of Sephora.—
Reia Li,
AZCentral.com,
4 Nov. 2025
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These characters are so thin, their storylines so flimsy and their motives so underbaked that there’s no recognizable emotion underlying any of it, and thus no feeling to be provoked by watching it.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Similarly, the Interstate Consortium for the Sustainable Development of the Legal Amazon Region brings together Amazonian states to curb deforestation, promote green agriculture and attract green investment.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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Ausberry was promoted to the interim job in Woodward’s place, and the board gave him the authority to lead the coaching hire.—
Chris Vannini,
New York Times,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Foment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foment. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
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