foment

verb

fo·ment ˈfō-ˌment How to pronounce foment (audio)

fō-ˈment

fomented; fomenting; foments

transitive verb

: to promote the growth or development of : rouse, incite

foment a rebellion

was accused of fomenting a riot

fomenter noun

Did you know?

If you had sore muscles in the 1600s, your doctor might have advised you to foment the injury, perhaps with heated lotions or warm wax. Does this sound like an odd prescription? Not if you know that foment traces to the Latin verb fovēre, which means "to heat or warm" or "to soothe." The earliest documented English uses of foment appear in medical texts offering advice on how to soothe various aches and pains by the application of moist heat. In time, the idea of applying heat became a metaphor for stimulating or rousing to action. Foment then started being used in political contexts to mean "to stir up" or "to call to action."

Example Sentences

He was accused of fomenting violence. 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”.

Recent Examples on the Web In the meantime, the internet has blossomed into a far more insidiously efficient tool for those who seek to foment discord and terrorism.

Marc Fisher, Anchorage Daily News, 27 Aug. 2022 And yet, the agency failed to incapacitate Ukraine’s government, foment any semblance of a pro-Russian groundswell or interrupt President Volodymyr Zelensky’s hold on power.

Catherine Belton, Washington Post, 19 Aug. 2022 Typically, Moscow exploits mass protests in the U.S. to amplify discord and divisions in America through social media in the attempt to help foment social unrest.

Fox News, 25 June 2022 Not to mention the increasingly loud conservative voices that try to foment irrational outrage over any acknowledgement of the actual reality of LGBTQ people existing.

Tracy Brownstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2022 The shooter in that attack aimed to foment discord between Muslims and non-Muslims, with the goal of driving followers of Islam out of the country.

Emma Coleman Jordan, CNN, 29 May 2022 Her travels this week underscore New Zealand's desire to foment stronger ties with the U.S.

Emma Hinchliffe And Paige Mcglauflin, Fortune, 25 May 2022 Think about how many White supremacist organizations have taken up residency in East County over the years or about the ways extremists sought to use Defend East County to foment hate.

San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2022 Rising prices could again foment political instability in the Middle East.

Frida Ghitis, CNN, 3 June 2022 See More

foment

verb

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"

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

provoke
promote
incite
instigate
encourage
raise
trigger
ferment
abet
stimulate
cultivate
brew
pick
foster
stimulate
further
inspire
nurture
sow
set in motion
stir (up)
rouse
motivate
nourish
inflame
advance
whip (up)
forward
galvanize
detonate
excite
set off
invigorate
energize
enflame
enliven
activate
vitalize
quicken
set
fire
pep (up)
jazz (up)
liven (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

regulate
inhibit
restrain
discourage
constrain
hold
curb
tame
check
allay
rein (in)
subdue
settle
soothe
calm
bridle
quiet
still
tranquillize
tranquilize

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of foment are abet, incite, and instigate. While all these words mean "to spur to action," foment implies persistence in goading.

fomenting rebellion

The words abet and foment are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, abet implies both assisting and encouraging.

aiding and abetting the enemy

The words incite and foment can be used in similar contexts, but incite stresses a stirring up and urging on, and may or may not imply initiating.

inciting a riot

The meanings of instigate and foment largely overlap; however, instigate definitely implies responsibility for initiating another's action and often connotes underhandedness or evil intention.

instigated a conspiracy

单词	foment
释义	foment verb fo·ment ˈfō-ˌment fō-ˈment fomented; fomenting; foments transitive verb : to promote the growth or development of : rouse, incite foment a rebellion was accused of fomenting a riot fomenter noun Did you know? If you had sore muscles in the 1600s, your doctor might have advised you to foment the injury, perhaps with heated lotions or warm wax. Does this sound like an odd prescription? Not if you know that foment traces to the Latin verb fovēre, which means "to heat or warm" or "to soothe." The earliest documented English uses of foment appear in medical texts offering advice on how to soothe various aches and pains by the application of moist heat. In time, the idea of applying heat became a metaphor for stimulating or rousing to action. Foment then started being used in political contexts to mean "to stir up" or "to call to action." Synonyms abet brew ferment incite instigate pick provoke raise stir (up) whip (up) See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences He was accused of fomenting violence. 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”. Recent Examples on the Web In the meantime, the internet has blossomed into a far more insidiously efficient tool for those who seek to foment discord and terrorism. Marc Fisher, Anchorage Daily News, 27 Aug. 2022 And yet, the agency failed to incapacitate Ukraine’s government, foment any semblance of a pro-Russian groundswell or interrupt President Volodymyr Zelensky’s hold on power. Catherine Belton, Washington Post, 19 Aug. 2022 Typically, Moscow exploits mass protests in the U.S. to amplify discord and divisions in America through social media in the attempt to help foment social unrest. Fox News, 25 June 2022 Not to mention the increasingly loud conservative voices that try to foment irrational outrage over any acknowledgement of the actual reality of LGBTQ people existing. Tracy Brownstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2022 The shooter in that attack aimed to foment discord between Muslims and non-Muslims, with the goal of driving followers of Islam out of the country. Emma Coleman Jordan, CNN, 29 May 2022 Her travels this week underscore New Zealand's desire to foment stronger ties with the U.S. Emma Hinchliffe And Paige Mcglauflin, Fortune, 25 May 2022 Think about how many White supremacist organizations have taken up residency in East County over the years or about the ways extremists sought to use Defend East County to foment hate. San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2022 Rising prices could again foment political instability in the Middle East. Frida Ghitis, CNN, 3 June 2022 See More Word History Etymology Middle English, to apply a warm substance to, from Late Latin fomentare, from Latin fomentum compress, from fovēre to heat, soothe; akin to Lithuanian degti to burn, Sanskrit dahati it burns First Known Use circa 1613, in the meaning defined above Medical Definition foment 1 of 2 noun fo·ment ˈfō-ˌment : fomentation foment 2 of 2 transitive verb fo·ment fō-ˈment : to treat with moist heat (as for easing pain) foment verb 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" Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance provoke promote incite instigate encourage raise trigger ferment abet stimulate cultivate brew pick foster stimulate further inspire nurture sow set in motion stir (up) rouse motivate nourish inflame advance whip (up) forward galvanize detonate excite set off invigorate energize enflame enliven activate vitalize quicken set fire pep (up) jazz (up) liven (up) Antonyms & Near Antonyms regulate inhibit restrain discourage constrain hold curb tame check allay rein (in) subdue settle soothe calm bridle quiet still tranquillize tranquilize See More Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of foment are abet, incite, and instigate. While all these words mean "to spur to action," foment implies persistence in goading. fomenting rebellion The words abet and foment are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, abet implies both assisting and encouraging. aiding and abetting the enemy The words incite and foment can be used in similar contexts, but incite stresses a stirring up and urging on, and may or may not imply initiating. inciting a riot The meanings of instigate and foment largely overlap; however, instigate definitely implies responsibility for initiating another's action and often connotes underhandedness or evil intention. instigated a conspiracy
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foment

verb

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Medical Definition

noun

transitive verb

verb

Synonym Chooser