fomentare

to foment

verb foh-men-TAH-reh Rare

Origin: From Latin fomentare 'to apply a warm poultice,' later extended to inflaming passions

Also means

to stir up

Usage Note

Fomentare means to deliberately incite or encourage trouble, unrest, or conflict — fomentare disordini ('to foment unrest'), fomentare odio ('to stoke hatred'). It takes avere as auxiliary. The word is largely negative in connotation and belongs to political and journalistic registers.

Examples

"Il leader ha fomentato la rivolta."

Natural Translation

The leader fomented the revolt.

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