Foment
FOH-ment
Definition
(verb) To instigate, stir up, or encourage (especially trouble or rebellion).
Example
The speech was accused of fomenting unrest among the workers.
Word Origin
From Latin fovēre, meaning “to warm” or “soothe.”
Fun Fact
While foment sounds fiery, its roots are surprisingly gentle—it originally referred to warming or applying heat to soothe pain. By the 1600s, the word evolved metaphorically to mean “stirring up” passions or conflicts, much like heat can cause something to boil over. Today, it’s most often used in political or social contexts, describing the act of provoking movement or rebellion—the linguistic spark behind a blaze of action.