Foment
To stir up, incite, or foster the growth of something, especially trouble, unrest, or rebellion.
verbFoment
To stir up, incite, or foster the growth of something, especially trouble, unrest, or rebellion.
verbImagine 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.
Sounds Like
foh-MENT
Looks Like
Foam + ment
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.
Other Forms
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.
Study Deeper
- The leaders' rhetoric aimed to foment unrest among the populace.
- Social media rumors can foment fear and panic in a city.
From Latin fomentare 'to fan, to warm', from fomes 'tinder, fuel'. The sense 'to stir up' developed in Old French and English.
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.