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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as in provoking
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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
Adjective
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
Verb
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Yet when North Korea invaded South Korea, the United States intervened forcefully, pushing up to the Chinese border and provoking a ferocious Chinese counterattack.—
Michael Beckley,
Foreign Affairs,
7 Jan. 2025
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In 2008, the United States suggested that Georgia and Ukraine might eventually join the alliance but offered no concrete path to membership, thus provoking Russia without effectively deterring it.—
Michael Beckley,
Foreign Affairs,
7 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Meanwhile Russia is promoting drone awareness in children in other ways, down to children’s cartoons in which characters use their videogame skills to pilot drones delivering toys.—
David Hambling,
Forbes,
8 Jan. 2025
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The simple and accessible name is helping the brand and its followers create a one-of-a-kind community on all social media platforms, empowering innovative voices to join together in promoting hair health online.—
Kaitlyn Gomez,
USA TODAY,
8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Sugar feeds the wrong kinds of bacteria, including Candida, yeast, and other inflammatory microbes.—
Jordi Lippe-McGraw,
Forbes.com,
1 Aug. 2025
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Over time, this can trigger an inflammatory response in your child’s body.—
Laura Lu,
Parents,
30 July 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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The film was divisive from the jump, with some critics saying Aster’s film is incendiary on purpose – meant to rile conspiracy theorists, incite liberal outrage and foreshadow the inevitability of a second Trump term.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
22 July 2025
-
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,
21 July 2025
Adjective
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The provocative name helps drive those velocities, making shoppers do a double-take when browsing for ice cream.—
Andrew Watman,
Forbes.com,
31 July 2025
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His rhetoric is provocative, but slippery enough to avoid outright extremism.—
Franklin Foer,
The Atlantic,
28 July 2025
Adjective
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With rich characters and an exciting form, St. John Mandel has crafted a modern classic full of hope in the face of suffering.—
Robert English,
EW.com,
30 July 2025
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Enter Kampar, just south of Philadelphia’s South Street in the Queen Village neighborhood, featuring a ground-floor tasting menu-only dinner service; above it, Kongsi, its casual counterpart, pairing Malaysian street food flavors with exciting cocktails.—
Alisha Miranda,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
30 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fomenting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fomenting. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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