as in turmoil
a disturbed or uneasy state
the city was in ferment as its residents nervously awaited the outcome of the referendum vote
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to provoke
to bring (something volatile or intense) into being
the various social and economic factors that fermented the major cultural change during the U.S. during the 1960s
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ferment
Ashley Paul, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
The situation is one of ideological ferment, rather than a reversion to some Romneyite center.
—Amy Davidson Sorkin, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2026
Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 23 Apr. 2026
The crunchy slices are lightly fermented for a gut-health boost.
—Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ferment
Noun
The impacts won't truly be felt until the coming seasons, since the grapes take time to ferment.
—Ashley Paul, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
The situation is one of ideological ferment, rather than a reversion to some Romneyite center.
—Amy Davidson Sorkin, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2026
Verb
Takamine uses koji mold to ferment its whisky, a process that is usually employed for making soy sauce or miso.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 23 Apr. 2026
The crunchy slices are lightly fermented for a gut-health boost.
—Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ferment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ferment
Noun
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The bloc has been forging new trade relationships, like an expansive trade agreement with the European Union, in the wake of the tariff turmoil that has seen many of America’s closest trade ties unravel.—
Kate Nishimura,
Footwear News,
7 May 2026
-
On the surface, Middle of Nowhere outlines the turmoil before and after an ex’s disappearing act.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
The Declaration’s insurrectionist contention—that people, when unjustly provoked, have the right to dissolve their government—hung heavily in a country that had just witnessed the eleven states of the Confederacy make the same argument.—
Jelani Cobb,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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Jeff Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sanchéz, are honorary chairs and lead sponsors of the gala — which has provoked an activist group to call for a boycott of the event.—
Ivy Buck,
NPR,
4 May 2026
Noun
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See the process for yourself on the BONDED tour, which leads visitors deep into the process, from fermentation to barreling, with tastings along the way.—
Michelle Polizzi,
Southern Living,
1 May 2026
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Here are four classic dandelion recipes that range from a quick weeknight side to a months-long fermentation project.—
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Diplomats said the two countries raised strong objections when the UN Security Council discussed it behind closed doors last week, Reuters reported.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
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Independent reports have raised concerns about confusion and conflicts over who is ultimately accountable for education in California.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
Noun
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That is, up until the 1911 census, after which unrest put the practice on pause.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
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Turkey denies the deaths constituted genocide, saying the toll has been inflated and that those killed were victims of civil war and unrest.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In Chicago local officials were at Laury Bride Bridal Shop in Bronzeville to promote their initiatives in help small businesses succeed.—
CBS Chicago Team,
CBS News,
4 May 2026
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Cerda says this Latino wealth gap report is important because the immigration crackdown of undocumented Latino people leads to uncertainty about their futures, the inability to be promoted or to apply for other jobs because of their undocumented status, which ultimately harms Texas’ economy.—
Kamal Morgan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ferment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ferment. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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