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Definition
to stir up trouble or rebellionOn rare occasions, you may encounter foment used in its archaic sense: "to bathe with warm water or medicated lotions."
- They plotting to foment another Shia uprising.
- He was accused of fomenting violence.
- "You foment class hatred," I said.London, Jack -- The Iron Heel
- The rise of monarchs in Europe fomented exploration of the New World.
- He worked tirelessly to foment understanding in a diverse community.
- Saddamists and former regime loyalists harbor dreams of reestablishing a Ba'athist dictatorship and have played a lead role in fomenting wider sentiment against the Iraqi government and the Coalition.National Security Council -- National Strategy for Victory in Iraq, 2005
- The maid had entered with us, and began once more to foment the bruise upon her mistress's brow.Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan -- The Return of Sherlock Holmes
- Has the U.N. eliminated funding for ... the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, which fomented anti-Semitism and the demonization of Israel?Newt Gingrich -- The Current State of UN Reform -- http://www.aei.org/publications/pubID.23396,filter.all/pub_detail.asp (retrieved 06/29/06)
- The leech, unknowing of superior art Which aids the cure, with this foments the part; And in a moment ceas'd the raging smart.Virgil -- The Aeneid
- Many of the incidents indicated to me that the police, rather than quelling violence, were fomenting it.Nelson Mandela -- Long Walk to Freedom
- While it lasts you have your chance to foment the problems in secret and render them chronic.C.S. Lewis -- The Screwtape Letters
- The ability and willingness of local elites to organize and foment violence.Tracy Kidder -- Strength in What Remains
- Mom is fomenting her own brand of anarchy closer to home.Christina Garcia -- Dreaming in Cuban
- Defying those with rumors to foment, He wants us together at every moment.Jean-Baptiste Poquelin Moliere -- Tartuffe
- This racism, and the hatred and fear it fomented, surely served as an accelerant for abuse of Allied prisoners.Laura Hillenbrand -- Unbroken
- There will be time enough for foment in the camp.Chang-rae Lee -- A Gesture Life
- The brainchild of JFK, Mongoose involved inserting teams of Cuban exiles into Cuba to foment rebellion against Castro.Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard -- Killing Kennedy
- It seems a clear attempt to foment discord among Downworlders.Cassandra Clare -- City of Fallen Angels
- The older man was accused of fomenting rebellion and spying for the dragon queen.George R.R. Martin -- A Dance With Dragons
- [His] obstinacy.... will cause him to foment a thousand unfortunate incidents ....David McCullough -- John Adams