Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense foments, present participle fomenting, past tense, past participle fomented
verb
If someone or something foments trouble or violent opposition, they cause it to develop.
[formal]
They accused strike leaders of fomenting violence. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: stir up, raise, encourage, promote More Synonyms of foment
foment in British English
(fəˈmɛnt)
verb(transitive)
1.
to encourage or instigate (trouble, discord, etc); stir up
2. medicine
to apply heat and moisture to (a part of the body) to relieve pain and inflammation
▶ USAGE Both foment and ferment can be used to talk about stirring up trouble: he was accused of fomenting/fermenting unrest. Only ferment can be used intransitively or as a noun: his anger continued to ferment (not foment); rural areas were unaffected by the ferment in the cities
Derived forms
fomentation (ˌfəʊmɛnˈteɪʃən)
noun
fomenter (foˈmenter)
noun
Word origin
C15: from Late Latin fōmentāre, from Latin fōmentum a poultice, ultimately from fovēre to foster
foment in American English
(foʊˈmɛnt)
verb transitive
1.
to treat with warm water, medicated lotions, etc.
2.
to stir up (trouble); instigate; incite
to foment a riot
SIMILAR WORDS: inˈcite
Word origin
ME fomenten < OFr fomenter < LL fomentare < L fomentum, poultice < fovere, to keep warm < IE *dhogwh- < base *dhegwh-, to burn > Sans dáhati, (it) burns, MIr daig, fire
Examples of 'foment' in a sentence
foment
By the time recreation was under way, the task would be to foment rumour and excitement, but still with nothing concrete being said.
Kippax, Frank THE SCAR (2001)
`Contrary to what those chaps believe," he said, `we are going in to prevent trouble, or contain it, not foment it.
Kippax, Frank THE SCAR (2001)
But this was not the moment to foment a breach with one of the men who were, at least in theory, his masters.
Robert Silverberg KING OF DREAMS (2001)
(verb)
Definition
to encourage or stir up (trouble)
They accused strike leaders of fomenting violence.
Synonyms
stir up
raise
encourage
Their task is to encourage private investment in Russia.
promote
His country will do everything possible to promote peace.
excite
The proposal failed to excite our interest.
spur
His friend's plight had spurred him into taking part.
foster
They are keen to foster trading links with the West.
stimulate
I was stimulated to examine my deepest thoughts.
provoke
His comments have provoked a shocked reaction.
brew
arouse
His work has aroused intense interest.
rouse
He did more to rouse the crowd than anybody else.
agitate
The thought of them inheriting all these things agitated her.
quicken
Thank you for quickening my spiritual understanding.
incite
He incited his fellow citizens to take revenge.
instigate
The violence was instigated by ex-members of the secret police.
whip up
goad
He goaded me into taking direct action.
abet
The media have abetted the feeling of unreality.
sow the seeds of
fan the flames
Usage note
Both foment and ferment can be used to talk about stirring up trouble: he was accused of fomenting/fermenting unrest. Only ferment can be used intransitively or as a noun: his anger continued to ferment (not foment); rural areas were unaffected by the ferment in the cities.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of abet
The media have abetted the feeling of unreality.
Synonyms
encourage,
further,
forward,
promote,
urge,
boost,
prompt,
spur,
foster,
incite,
connive at
in the sense of agitate
Definition
to excite, disturb, or trouble
The thought of them inheriting all these things agitated her.
Synonyms
upset,
worry,
trouble,
disturb,
excite,
alarm,
stimulate,
distract,
rouse,
ruffle,
inflame,
incite,
unnerve,
disconcert,
disquiet,
fluster,
perturb,
faze,
work someone up,
give someone grief (British, South Africa),
arouse,
ferment
in the sense of arouse
Definition
to produce (a reaction, emotion, or response)
His work has aroused intense interest.
Synonyms
stimulate,
encourage,
inspire,
prompt,
spark,
spur,
foster,
provoke,
rouse,
stir up,
inflame,
incite,
instigate,
whip up,
summon up,
whet,
kindle,
foment,
call forth
Nearby words of
foment
follower
following
folly
foment
fomenter
fond
fond of
Synonyms of 'foment'
foment
Explore 'foment' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of rouse
Definition
to provoke or excite
He did more to rouse the crowd than anybody else.
Synonyms
excite,
move,
arouse,
stir,
disturb,
provoke,
anger,
startle,
animate,
prod,
exhilarate,
get going,
agitate,
inflame,
incite,
whip up,
galvanize,
bestir
in the sense of spur
Definition
to encourage (someone)
His friend's plight had spurred him into taking part.