Vocabulary in context
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Foment
To stir up, incite, or foster the growth of something, especially trouble, unrest, or rebellion.
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Imagine This
Before you drink a cup of hot chocolate with foamy whipped cream topping, you need to stir down the foam to make the drink taste better.
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Sounds Like
foh-MENT
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Looks Like
Foam + ment
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Remember This
Foment is used with negative or disruptive outcomes (unrest, rebellion). A memorable cue is 'fuel a movement'—to foment is to fuel or spur a movement or uproar.
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Other Forms
fomentationnoun
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Note
Foment denotes active incitement. Distinguish from ferment: ferment can refer to fermentation or agitation in general, while foment specifically means to deliberately stir up trouble or dissent.
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Study Deeper
Examples
- The leaders' rhetoric aimed to foment unrest among the populace.
- Social media rumors can foment fear and panic in a city.
Synonyms
inciteinstigatearouseagitatestir up
Antonyms
detersuppresscalm
Etymology
From Latin fomentare 'to fan, to warm', from fomes 'tinder, fuel'. The sense 'to stir up' developed in Old French and English.
Mnemonic
Mnemonic: FOMENT = FUEL MOVEMENT — to foment is to fuel a movement or uprising.
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Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Instigate
verbTo urge, provoke, or start something, often by incitement; to initiate an action or event.
Incite
verbTo urge, provoke, or stimulate to action, often by arousing strong feelings; to stir up or excite others.
Abandon
verbTo give up completely, to desert or leave behind, or to relinquish a claim, plan, or responsibility.
Abate
verbTo decrease in amount or intensity; to reduce or end something.
Abolish
verbTo formally end or repeal a system, practice, or institution; to officially put an end to something established.
Abridge
verbTo shorten (a text, speech, or other work) by omitting parts; to condense.
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