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foment Definition

fo·ment (fō ment)

transitive verb

  1. to treat with warm water, medicated lotions, etc.
  2. to stir up (trouble); instigate; incite to foment a riot

Etymology: 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

foment Synonyms

foment

v.

incite, instigate, stir up, foster; see incite, promote 1. See syn. study at incite.

foment Usage Examples

Object

  • extremism: A Home Office press release says there will be a consultation paper on places of worship " being used to foment extremism " .
  • rebellion: In Eastern Europe his aim on the contrary is to foment rebellion.
  • strife: He is mentioned, in connection with Bertrand de Born, who fomented the strife with his son.
  • unrest: January onwards The Fakir of Ipi makes repeated attempts to foment unrest against British colonial rule in India's North-West Frontier Province.
  • hatred: Some had no answer, but others were adamant it was the work of Jews, bent on fomenting hatred of Islam.
  • trouble: Ahriman was banished to hell from where he continued to foment trouble for the world through his armies of demons.

Modifying Another Word

  • deliberately: Rather, they deliberately foment sectarianism, a traditional weapon of colonizers.
  • directly: The Our Ukraine party went even further yesterday, accusing Moscow of directly fomenting the crisis.
  • actively: As Julian Evans reported last week in these pages, the US is actively fomenting revolt in Belarus.
  • then: They then foment communal massacres, and then declare themselves champions of civilised values.

Browse dictionary entries near foment

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  6. folly
  7. following
  8. followership
  9. follower
  10. follow-up
  1. fomentation
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