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
Like many of his contemporaries, Romeo found his true calling in the 1970s, when a radical new wave of producers harnessed Kingston’s network of small studios and record labels to foment the roots reggae explosion, as Lloyd Bradley documents in Bass Culture: When Reggae Was King.
—
Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 14 Apr. 2025
The broadcaster sought to foment anti-communist dissent in Eastern Europe and Russia.
—Minho Kim, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
Now Harvard is guilty of fomenting blazing Jew-hatred through its curriculum and campus climate.
—Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 11 May 2025
Research has consistently singled out the powerful role social media plays in fomenting and spreading antisemitism.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for foment
Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 14 Apr. 2025
The broadcaster sought to foment anti-communist dissent in Eastern Europe and Russia.
—Minho Kim, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
Now Harvard is guilty of fomenting blazing Jew-hatred through its curriculum and campus climate.
—Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 11 May 2025
Research has consistently singled out the powerful role social media plays in fomenting and spreading antisemitism.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for foment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foment
Verb
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Negotiating with someone who is trying to provoke you is their tactic.—
John Baldoni,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
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Daily life in the villa is punctuated by games and challenges, designed to reveal secrets, provoke drama and test the strength of relationships.—
Samantha Stutsman,
People.com,
29 May 2025
Verb
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Pollard was promoted to be executive vice president in 1980 and then president and chief operating officer in 1981 before he was named ServiceMaster’s CEO in 1983, succeeding Wessner.—
Bob Goldsborough,
Chicago Tribune,
7 June 2025
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But on one March evening, these hulking installations were just a backdrop: Goose, and 1,000 of its most ardent fans, descended on the space for a special event promoting the ascendant Connecticut jam band’s new album, Everything Must Go (released April 25).—
Lyndsey Havens,
Billboard,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Foment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foment. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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