Foment
verb
To stir up, instigate or cause growth of something, especially negative feelings, trouble, or a rebellion.
She was accused of fomenting political unrest.
Often appears as...
- foment discord
- foment trouble
Usage tips
Formal, Disapproving
Academic
verb
To apply warm substances to the body to relieve pain or treat injuries.
The physical therapist decided to foment the patient's injury with a warm compress.
Usage tips
Formal
Technical
verb
To stir up, instigate or cause growth of something, especially negative feelings, trouble, or a rebellion.
She was accused of fomenting political unrest.
Often appears as...
- foment discord
- foment trouble
Usage tips
Formal, Disapproving
Academic
verb
To apply warm substances to the body to relieve pain or treat injuries.
The physical therapist decided to foment the patient's injury with a warm compress.
Usage tips
Formal
Technical
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Emphasis
Usually implies initiation of something harmful or undesirable.
He was criticized for fomenting unnecessary conflicts among the team members.
Pro Tip 2/3Powerful Influence
Indicates exerting a strong influence to provoke a response or action.
Through her speeches, she was able to foment a sense of urgency among the voters.
Pro Tip 3/3Groups Affected
Often used in political or social contexts affecting communities or large groups.
The policy changes are likely to foment public demonstrations.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Emphasis
Usually implies initiation of something harmful or undesirable.
He was criticized for fomenting unnecessary conflicts among the team members.
Pro Tip 2/3Powerful Influence
Indicates exerting a strong influence to provoke a response or action.
Through her speeches, she was able to foment a sense of urgency among the voters.
Pro Tip 3/3Groups Affected
Often used in political or social contexts affecting communities or large groups.
The policy changes are likely to foment public demonstrations.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Emphasis
Usually implies initiation of something harmful or undesirable.
He was criticized for fomenting unnecessary conflicts among the team members.
Pro Tip 2/3Powerful Influence
Indicates exerting a strong influence to provoke a response or action.
Through her speeches, she was able to foment a sense of urgency among the voters.
Pro Tip 3/3Groups Affected
Often used in political or social contexts affecting communities or large groups.
The policy changes are likely to foment public demonstrations.
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Video examples
Juan Enriquez: The...
because they didn't get this change, because they kept treating their people like serfs instead of like shareholders of a common project. They didn't keep the people who were educated. They didn't foment the businesses. They didn't do the IPOs.
Video examples
Juan Enriquez: The...
because they didn't get this change, because they kept treating their people like serfs instead of like shareholders of a common project. They didn't keep the people who were educated. They didn't foment the businesses. They didn't do the IPOs.
Example 1 of 1
Quote examples
Pope Francis
Argentinian Clergyman
Sometimes negative news does come out, but it is often exaggerated and manipulated to spread scandal. Journalists sometimes risk becoming ill from coprophilia and thus fomenting coprophagia: which is a sin that taints all men and women, that is, the tendency to focus on the negative rather than the positive aspects.
Quote examples
Marquis de Lafayette
French Revolutionary
We still are pestered by two parties: the aristocratic, which is panting for a counter revolution, and the factious, which aims at the division of the empire and destruction of the authority - and perhaps of the lives - of the reigning branch, both of which parties are fomenting troubles.
Quote examples
Carol Gilligan
American Psychologist
The women's movement is taking a different form right now, and it is because it has been so effective and so successful that there's a huge counter movement to try to stop it, to try to divide women from one another, to try to almost foment divisiveness.
Quote examples
Lynn Schusterman
American
To all of the young people out there who are creating social change or even fomenting social movements: hold on to your idealism and your belief in your ability to change the world. Your lofty goals demand attention and deserve support.
Quote examples
Abigail Adams
American First Lady
If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies, we are determined to foment a rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice, or representation.
Quote examples
Nostradamus
French Celebrity
There will be a great loss of learning before the moon's full cycle is completed. Fire and floods will be fomented by ignorant rulers; much time will go by before it is rectified.
Quote examples
Clifford Irving
American Writer
I became chairman of the inmates committee. Got into a lot of trouble. Was accused of fomenting a riot. Was accused of plotting to kill the warden.
Quote examples
Owen Jones
British Journalist
Although economic grievances were critical in delivering the referendum result, Brexit has fomented an all-out culture war.
Quote examples
Alan Dershowitz
American Lawyer
There is a paranoid streak in American life. Radio talk show hosts tend to foment that paranoid streak in American life.
Quote examples
Rajnath Singh
Indian Politician
We dream of nation-building. We cannot achieve this by fomenting social divisions.
Quote examples
Pope Francis
Argentinian Clergyman
Sometimes negative news does come out, but it is often exaggerated and manipulated to spread scandal. Journalists sometimes risk becoming ill from coprophilia and thus fomenting coprophagia: which is a sin that taints all men and women, that is, the tendency to focus on the negative rather than the positive aspects.
Quote examples
Marquis de Lafayette
French Revolutionary
We still are pestered by two parties: the aristocratic, which is panting for a counter revolution, and the factious, which aims at the division of the empire and destruction of the authority - and perhaps of the lives - of the reigning branch, both of which parties are fomenting troubles.
Quote examples
Carol Gilligan
American Psychologist
The women's movement is taking a different form right now, and it is because it has been so effective and so successful that there's a huge counter movement to try to stop it, to try to divide women from one another, to try to almost foment divisiveness.
Quote examples
Lynn Schusterman
American
To all of the young people out there who are creating social change or even fomenting social movements: hold on to your idealism and your belief in your ability to change the world. Your lofty goals demand attention and deserve support.
Quote examples
Abigail Adams
American First Lady
If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies, we are determined to foment a rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice, or representation.
Quote examples
Nostradamus
French Celebrity
There will be a great loss of learning before the moon's full cycle is completed. Fire and floods will be fomented by ignorant rulers; much time will go by before it is rectified.
Quote examples
Clifford Irving
American Writer
I became chairman of the inmates committee. Got into a lot of trouble. Was accused of fomenting a riot. Was accused of plotting to kill the warden.
Quote examples
Owen Jones
British Journalist
Although economic grievances were critical in delivering the referendum result, Brexit has fomented an all-out culture war.
Quote examples
Alan Dershowitz
American Lawyer
There is a paranoid streak in American life. Radio talk show hosts tend to foment that paranoid streak in American life.
Quote examples
Rajnath Singh
Indian Politician
We dream of nation-building. We cannot achieve this by fomenting social divisions.
Example 1 of 10
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