as in provoking
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as in promoting
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 fomenting
Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 13 May 2026
Duterte joined Marcos’ ticket to secure a landslide victory in the 2022 national elections, but the two have since become political rivals, fomenting a feud that has thrown the country into political and economic turmoil.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 11 May 2026
The strategy was highly effective, causing power rationing in the capital and fomenting civil chaos.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 10 May 2026
But the war that’s threatening global energy supplies, upending geopolitics, fomenting a food crisis and likely to curb global growth long after any ceasefire is the Iran war.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2026
Many cops and union officials blamed de Blasio’s support for Black Lives Matter and other protesters against police brutality for fomenting anti-cop sentiment that culminated in the slayings.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2026
This Jesse Jackson was a dangerous man, a radical, a demagogue, someone who thrived off fomenting racial division.
—Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 17 Feb. 2026
Chávez himself drew heavily on Fidel Castro’s Cuba in fomenting the ideology, which has ruled over Venezuela since Chávez came to power in a 1998 presidential election.
—Paul Webster Hare, The Conversation, 19 Jan. 2026
Iranian officials have repeatedly accused the United States and Israel of fomenting unrest in the country.
—Elena Becatoros, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2026
Verb
Sometimes, the frame is transfixed by haunting, practically subliminal changes fomenting on a subconscious level, as Dua is shaken from within, and the remarkable Matoshi doles out nuggets of recognizable emotion from beneath her rock-hard exterior.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 13 May 2026
Duterte joined Marcos’ ticket to secure a landslide victory in the 2022 national elections, but the two have since become political rivals, fomenting a feud that has thrown the country into political and economic turmoil.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 11 May 2026
The strategy was highly effective, causing power rationing in the capital and fomenting civil chaos.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 10 May 2026
But the war that’s threatening global energy supplies, upending geopolitics, fomenting a food crisis and likely to curb global growth long after any ceasefire is the Iran war.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2026
Many cops and union officials blamed de Blasio’s support for Black Lives Matter and other protesters against police brutality for fomenting anti-cop sentiment that culminated in the slayings.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2026
This Jesse Jackson was a dangerous man, a radical, a demagogue, someone who thrived off fomenting racial division.
—Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 17 Feb. 2026
Chávez himself drew heavily on Fidel Castro’s Cuba in fomenting the ideology, which has ruled over Venezuela since Chávez came to power in a 1998 presidential election.
—Paul Webster Hare, The Conversation, 19 Jan. 2026
Iranian officials have repeatedly accused the United States and Israel of fomenting unrest in the country.
—Elena Becatoros, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fomenting
Adjective
-
Ambitious, thought-provoking, thrilling and passionate.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
6 May 2026
-
Then on May 1, amid the full moon in Scorpio, Venus will harmonize with Saturn in Aries, presenting the opportunity for something fun and thought-provoking to become real.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In 2024, Hamilton shared posts on X promoting misinformation about FEMA spending during Hurricane Helene.—
Gabriela Aoun Angueira,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
-
The administration is using hype footage from video games in official military videos promoting the conflict with Iran.—
Alex Greenberger,
ARTnews.com,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
The inciting moment comes when Austin and Ashley witness a violent argument between Josh and Lindsay.—
Ryan Brennan
April 16,
Miami Herald,
16 Apr. 2026
-
While one of the inciting events for establishing the Code of Credits happened to be a crowd of producers onstage at the Oscars, the goal never was to exclude anyone from the profession.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The governing body said the show would support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which is raising $100 million to help children access education and soccer.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 May 2026
-
Israel’s national security minister inflamed the situation with a provocative visit to the contested Al Aqsa Mosque compound, raising concerns about Jerusalem’s status in the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict.—
Julia Frankel,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Benitez was prone to making what were perceived as inflammatory comments about Chelsea in press conferences during his spell on Merseyside — remarks he was not allowed to forget when he was appointed at Stamford Bridge.—
Simon Johnson,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
At the same time, hormones help regulate inflammatory signaling in the body.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Flow Space,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
Arson – To unlawfully and intentionally damage or attempt to damage any real or personal property of another person or entity by fire or incendiary device.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
6 May 2026
-
Your posts didn’t seem incendiary.—
Marlow Stern,
Variety,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
So, could this be the goal of this provocative collaboration?—
Clara Ludmir,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
-
Both men were hospitalized after the shooting; community members describe Eatherly as someone whose provocative actions have intensified tensions and dangerous confrontations.—
Kristin M. Hall,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
There’s a subversive edge to this otherwise blithe simulacrum of a French salon inside the Printemps department store, with its frescoes, Languedoc marble tables and banquettes clad in Le Manach toile de Tours.—
Ligaya Mishan,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
California should give this cooperation in exchange for a deal to create a new pathway to deal with non-criminal, non-subversive immigrants.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fomenting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fomenting. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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