as in provoked
to bring (something volatile or intense) into being
John Adams's wife, Abigail, told him that if women were not remembered by the new American government, they would "foment a Rebellion and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice or Representation"
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Recent Examples of fomented
This concept has fueled unrealistic body standards and fomented weight stigma in doctor’s offices, which can worsen the quality of care people in large bodies receive.
—
Erica Sloan, SELF, 26 Mar. 2025
The concerns have fomented a crusade against seed oils on social media.
—Matt Fuchs, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025
Floyd’s murder in 2020 fomented a racial justice movement, leading to examinations of police abuse and to Black Lives Matter rallies across the United States.
—Jess Bidgood, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2025
Mao’s China funded and fomented anti-Western insurgencies, guerrilla movements, and ideological movements around the world, from Latin America to Southeast Asia.
—Fareed Zakaria, Foreign Affairs, 6 Dec. 2019
Smith's team also argues his allies fomented chaos in this uncertain time between Election Day and the race results.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 3 Oct. 2024
That’s especially true for China, whose economic health at home and standing abroad are threatened by the global instability fomented by its revisionist partners.
—Antony J. Blinken, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2024
Erica Sloan, SELF, 26 Mar. 2025
The concerns have fomented a crusade against seed oils on social media.
—Matt Fuchs, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025
Floyd’s murder in 2020 fomented a racial justice movement, leading to examinations of police abuse and to Black Lives Matter rallies across the United States.
—Jess Bidgood, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2025
Mao’s China funded and fomented anti-Western insurgencies, guerrilla movements, and ideological movements around the world, from Latin America to Southeast Asia.
—Fareed Zakaria, Foreign Affairs, 6 Dec. 2019
Smith's team also argues his allies fomented chaos in this uncertain time between Election Day and the race results.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 3 Oct. 2024
That’s especially true for China, whose economic health at home and standing abroad are threatened by the global instability fomented by its revisionist partners.
—Antony J. Blinken, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Fomented.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fomented. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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