as in provoked
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 fomented
The rigidity of the big cable bundle and its ever-increasing price has fomented consumer frustration for decades.
—
Howard Homonoff, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Trump has fomented a sense of chaos on the world stage, bringing the NATO alliance to the brink last week.
—Steven Sloan, Chicago Tribune, 25 Jan. 2026
To declare war on immigrants, many of whom are fleeing persecution and violence fomented by past American interventionism, requires a powerful, blinding narrative strong enough to smokescreen the degradation and dehumanization at the core of the messaging.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2026
The Holocaust was planned and fomented in secrecy by a despotic regime.
—Victor J. Blue, Harpers Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025
But the lines are becoming increasingly blurred in numerous other controversies that have fomented since Kirk’s death.
—Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 23 Oct. 2025
It’s not known if Pressley fomented her opposition from her new digs on Martha’s Vineyard or if Moulton has his eye on another run for president and didn’t want to check off that bipartisan box.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 23 Sep. 2025
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
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
Howard Homonoff, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Trump has fomented a sense of chaos on the world stage, bringing the NATO alliance to the brink last week.
—Steven Sloan, Chicago Tribune, 25 Jan. 2026
To declare war on immigrants, many of whom are fleeing persecution and violence fomented by past American interventionism, requires a powerful, blinding narrative strong enough to smokescreen the degradation and dehumanization at the core of the messaging.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2026
The Holocaust was planned and fomented in secrecy by a despotic regime.
—Victor J. Blue, Harpers Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025
But the lines are becoming increasingly blurred in numerous other controversies that have fomented since Kirk’s death.
—Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 23 Oct. 2025
It’s not known if Pressley fomented her opposition from her new digs on Martha’s Vineyard or if Moulton has his eye on another run for president and didn’t want to check off that bipartisan box.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 23 Sep. 2025
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fomented
provoked
Verb
-
Here are some of the Republicans who have provoked the President’s ire.—
Chantelle Lee,
Time,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The statement doesn’t even mention Renee Good and Alex Pretti, whose killing finally provoked the Chamber’s members to speak out.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fomented.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fomented. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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