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
John Brummett, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
The Hong Kong government appears to be wary of fomenting discontent that could snowball into mass demonstrations like in 2019, when widespread anti-establishment protests consumed the city.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 5 Dec. 2025
Midterm elections will see congressional battlegrounds in states where fast-rising electric bills or data center hotspots — or both — are fomenting community uprisings.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2025
All of which is to say that alcohol, that timeless ferment fomenting next day regrets since the dawn of civilization, now has competition.
—Timothy Depeugh, Charlotte Observer, 7 Nov. 2025
In the run-up to the polls, media outlets were hacked, several people were arrested for allegedly fomenting violent unrest, and Moldova’s embassy in Brussels was evacuated over a bomb threat.
—Semafor Events, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Questions will now be asked about whether the host team played a role in fomenting the aggression.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
If the unspoken goal of the administration is to centralize power around itself and create a perception of instability surrounding the status quo, then fomenting mistrust in data is an effective approach.
—Sheldon Jacobson, Twin Cities, 25 Sep. 2025
The company probably didn't mean to draw attention to the fact that Liquid Glass occasionally renders the boundaries between different parts of a window indistinct, fomenting border disputes.
—ArsTechnica, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
The real issues were that Venezuela has great oil resources and has been fomenting instability by offering a hemispheric base for China, Russia and Iran.
—John Brummett, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
The Hong Kong government appears to be wary of fomenting discontent that could snowball into mass demonstrations like in 2019, when widespread anti-establishment protests consumed the city.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 5 Dec. 2025
Midterm elections will see congressional battlegrounds in states where fast-rising electric bills or data center hotspots — or both — are fomenting community uprisings.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2025
All of which is to say that alcohol, that timeless ferment fomenting next day regrets since the dawn of civilization, now has competition.
—Timothy Depeugh, Charlotte Observer, 7 Nov. 2025
In the run-up to the polls, media outlets were hacked, several people were arrested for allegedly fomenting violent unrest, and Moldova’s embassy in Brussels was evacuated over a bomb threat.
—Semafor Events, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Questions will now be asked about whether the host team played a role in fomenting the aggression.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
If the unspoken goal of the administration is to centralize power around itself and create a perception of instability surrounding the status quo, then fomenting mistrust in data is an effective approach.
—Sheldon Jacobson, Twin Cities, 25 Sep. 2025
The company probably didn't mean to draw attention to the fact that Liquid Glass occasionally renders the boundaries between different parts of a window indistinct, fomenting border disputes.
—ArsTechnica, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fomenting
Adjective
-
The characterizations are complex and thought-provoking, and the descriptions of the natural world put the reader right there.—
The Know,
Denver Post,
7 Dec. 2025
-
The 2024 three-part docuseries American Nightmare dives headfirst into several thought-provoking issues, like victim blaming and the glaring inadequacies in the criminal justice system.—
James Mercadante,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The core purpose of Taste Addison – promoting Addison's 200+ restaurants – will be reenvisioned to include new, year-round options to support and elevate North Texas' most vibrant dining hub.—
S.E. Jenkins,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Still, the district put full faith in its current coaches, promoting from within.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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That’s the inciting incident of the new Paramount+ series Little Disasters, based on the Sarah Vaughan novel of the same name.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
12 Dec. 2025
-
The brief relapse of James’ sister Lydia’s secret love for Graham Sutton is the inciting incident that leads to Ruby and James’ meeting.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
1 Dec. 2025
Verb
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It is measured in the millions of students striving for opportunity—most of them raising children, working jobs, serving in uniform, or making rent and mortgage payments with other bills competing for their attention.—
Yolanda Watson Spiva,
Fortune,
8 Nov. 2025
-
One person might earn more while the other contributes in different but equally meaningful ways, like managing the home, raising kids and planning for the future.—
Annie Nova,
CNBC,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Lopez rushed her back to the emergency room, where an MRI revealed a diagnosis of transverse myelitis, a rare inflammatory disorder affecting the spinal cord.—
Leondra Head,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
His resignation comes after last month's trial in which inflammatory texts Phelps sent during contentious revenue-sharing negotiations were revealed.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The company saw shares collapse in the first quarter of 2025 amid stiff competition, particularly from Chinese EV manufacturers, and reputational fallout from Musk’s incendiary political rhetoric.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
2 Jan. 2026
-
Investigators were unable to determine the cause of most of the fires, but some have been classified as homeless incendiary and arson, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins, a fire department spokesman.—
Kendrick Calfee
January 2,
Kansas City Star,
2 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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That’s the question posed by a provocative ad running ahead of screenings at this year’s Thessaloniki Film Festival, highlighting the dire state of film funding in Greece.—
Christopher Vourlias,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
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This mother makes what the star did in the equally provocative Mother seem like child’s play.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Some readers might expect an indictment of fan fiction and celebrity culture; Yi swerves, though, and creates a more searching and subversive tale of love, connection, and art.—
Erin Somers,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
-
This excellent continuation of the Predator franchise is a super-powered, subversive reboot/sequel from director Dan Trachtenberg (10 Cloverfield Lane).—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fomenting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fomenting. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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