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
Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
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
Adjective
In May, 1978, long after the first unrest in Qom, Farah seemed not to have even heard of the ayatollah who was fomenting rebellion from Iraq.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fomenting
Verb
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Follow Scheffler for destination stories, travel trends and thought-provoking conversations from the world of travel.—
Daniel Scheffler,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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With online newsfeeds, that meant algorithms prioritizing posts with more anger-provoking content, or posts that drive comparisons of beauty, wealth or success.—
Jenna Glover,
Fortune,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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His alleged infidelity became the inciting incident of the series, and Brooks’s sisters rally around her amid the breakup.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The turn of the century saw the advent of rhizobial soil inoculants for improving legume growth, with the FDA promoting such applications.—
Anna Marija Helt,
JSTOR Daily,
17 Sep. 2025
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That political violence and policy violence are contrary to establishing justice, contrary to providing for the common defense contract, promoting the general welfare, contrary to ensuring domestic tranquility and contrast to equal protection under the law.—
Michel Martin,
NPR,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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For example, blood flukes in sea turtles can lead to range of inflammatory reactions in their vascular system severe enough to strand or kill them.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Taking these samples yields more biochemical information, such as gut microbiota composition, metabolites, inflammatory markers, and digestive enzyme activity.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Among them were countless era-defining releases that are still among the best movies ever made—of any genre—from the haunting Rebecca to the gripping Rear Window, and the ravishing Vertigo to the hair-raising Psycho.—
Radhika Seth,
Vogue,
13 Sep. 2025
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There were times when raising kids, building careers, and paying bills felt overwhelming.—
Allen Buchanan,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Two suspects are in custody after an incendiary device was found under a vehicle belonging to KSTU, a local TV station known as Fox 13 News Utah.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Kirk inspired and infuriated millions of Americans with his hard-line conservative views and often incendiary language.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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That group, which began on college campuses, quickly drew attention with its provocative events and Kirk’s willingness to debate critics onstage.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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Kirk frequently attacked mainstream media and engaged in culture war issues around race, gender and immigration, often in a provocative style.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Still, these issues fade into the background as you’re presented with some of the most inventive and subversive artistic creations of 2025.—
Matt Gardner,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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On the wrist, the Lee Ufan version felt as slim and architectural as any Octo Finissimo, with a subversive difference.—
Thor Svaboe,
Robb Report,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fomenting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fomenting. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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