fomenting

Fomenting is the act of stirring up, inciting, or promoting unrest, rebellion, or discontent. It is often used to describe deliberate efforts to provoke social or political action, such as spreading grievances, organizing protests, or encouraging resistance. The term carries a negative or critical connotation, implying manipulation or calculation rather than spontaneous opinion shaping.

Etymology traces fomenting to Old French foment(e)er and Latin fomentare, meaning to warm or soothe; originally in medicine referring to applying heat as a treatment. In modern English, the figurative sense to arouse or excite emotion developed later. The noun fomentation refers to a medical practice of applying warm substances to the body, and was historically common in folk medicine; the modern medical use is largely obsolete in many places, though foment remains in phrases like "to foment a boil" in some contexts.

In usage, fomenting is typically described as intentional action by individuals, groups, or governments, sometimes through rhetoric, propaganda, or organizing activities. It can be described as legitimate political organizing in some contexts, or as manipulation and destabilization in others; the assessment often depends on perspective and evidence of intent.

Common collocations include fomenting unrest, fomenting dissent, fomenting revolution, and fomenting protests. Related terms include incite, instigate, provoke, and agitate, each with its own nuance.