as in provoking
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2025
The hearing itself relitigated the Republican narrative that cities run by Democratic mayors are impeding federal immigration enforcement efforts and fomenting crime within their borders.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 6 Mar. 2025
His critics have accused him of fomenting anti-vaccine sentiment there, and putting children at risk by discouraging immunization.
—Sheryl Gay Stolberg, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2025
Millenarian prophets associated it with empire, persecution, and decadence, often fomenting social unrest and rebellion.
—Arthur Krystal, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025
The government has accused Russia, and its ally Belarus, of fomenting a migration crisis on the EU’s eastern border with Belarus in order to create chaos and division in the EU.
—Vanessa Gera, Los Angeles Times, 15 Jan. 2025
What’s certain, however, is that NASA, the commercial space sector, and nations around the globe are fomenting their desires to renew lunar exploration.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN, 14 Jan. 2025
One of the great joys of serving in the United States military is that soldiers from many different backgrounds and races learn to come together as a unit to complete the mission at hand, but the Biden Administration seemed hellbent on creating and fomenting racial division.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 13 Jan. 2025
These groups are purposefully spending millions to attack companies, fomenting polarization to support their views, with no regard for the personal wellbeing of millions of employees, or the financial wellbeing of corporations and their shareholders.
—Paolo Gaudiano, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2025
Verb
The effort kicked off last summer, when 74 fellows (out of roughly 1,600) sent a letter to the Royal Society’s leadership, reportedly out of concern that Musk’s X posts were fomenting racial violence in the United Kingdom and could therefore bring the institution into disrepute.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2025
The hearing itself relitigated the Republican narrative that cities run by Democratic mayors are impeding federal immigration enforcement efforts and fomenting crime within their borders.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 6 Mar. 2025
His critics have accused him of fomenting anti-vaccine sentiment there, and putting children at risk by discouraging immunization.
—Sheryl Gay Stolberg, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2025
Millenarian prophets associated it with empire, persecution, and decadence, often fomenting social unrest and rebellion.
—Arthur Krystal, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025
The government has accused Russia, and its ally Belarus, of fomenting a migration crisis on the EU’s eastern border with Belarus in order to create chaos and division in the EU.
—Vanessa Gera, Los Angeles Times, 15 Jan. 2025
What’s certain, however, is that NASA, the commercial space sector, and nations around the globe are fomenting their desires to renew lunar exploration.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN, 14 Jan. 2025
One of the great joys of serving in the United States military is that soldiers from many different backgrounds and races learn to come together as a unit to complete the mission at hand, but the Biden Administration seemed hellbent on creating and fomenting racial division.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 13 Jan. 2025
These groups are purposefully spending millions to attack companies, fomenting polarization to support their views, with no regard for the personal wellbeing of millions of employees, or the financial wellbeing of corporations and their shareholders.
—Paolo Gaudiano, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fomenting
Adjective
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Venture Colonialism There is arguably no single scholar more well versed, incisive, and thought provoking than Stern in analyzing the evolution of joint-stock corporations in the British Empire.—
Caroline Elkins,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Aug. 2023
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Her work is technically amazing, thought provoking and has tons of heart.—
Heide Janssen,
Orange County Register,
17 Mar. 2024
Verb
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Each film is an immersive experience, taking viewers behind the scenes and under the surface of the sea, revealing the dangers these marine environments face, promoting ocean literacy and championing change.—
Luisa Zargani,
WWD,
8 Jan. 2025
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Teachers attempted to respond to tensions in the school by promoting a two-week study on the history of the conflict.—
Beth Bailey,
Fox News,
8 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The year also began with a strong El Niño event, which occurs when the ocean in the Eastern Pacific releases large amounts of heat to the atmosphere, raising global temperatures.—
Lauren Sommer,
NPR,
24 Dec. 2024
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Sinema spent around $8,000 on travel expenses in the Boston area in the days surrounding the marathon this spring, but has reported raising just one dollar since March, according to CREW’s complaint.—
Laura Gersony,
The Arizona Republic,
24 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Once celebrated for her resilience, Skinner risks being remembered more for inflammatory commentary than athletic achievements.—
Caroline Price,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2025
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In response, Musk posted a series of inflammatory messages on X directed at the president.—
Brendan Rascius,
Miami Herald,
13 June 2025
Adjective
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Lurking in one of the aisles, a man quietly slipped an incendiary device, made from a cigarette, matches, and paper, into a section displaying foam rubber, with practiced ease.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
4 June 2025
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Witnesses said the attacker used a makeshift flamethrower and threw an incendiary device into the crowd, said Mark Michalek, special agent in charge at the FBI’s Denver field office.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
3 June 2025
Adjective
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There are some sweet crushes, but nothing provocative at all.—
Lynnette Nicholas,
Parents,
12 June 2025
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Environmental and natural resource lawyer Rebecca Sokol argued in favor of such indirect, behavioral strategies, in a provocative 2020 paper, and agrees with Paz’s assessment.—
Sarah Scoles,
JSTOR Daily,
11 June 2025
Adjective
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From Canada to Milan, it’s been a journey filled with creativity, intensity, and some of the most exciting food this show has ever seen.—
Buddha Lo,
People.com,
13 June 2025
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Selecting many of the most exciting and highest-quality titles from Latin America, the Focus will underscore the breadth and vibrancy of the region’s animation output, plus current artistic and market trends.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
12 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fomenting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fomenting. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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