foment

verb

1. (transitive)To incite or cause troublesome acts; to encourage; to instigate.

   “He was arrested for fomenting a riot; after all, it's bad enough being in a riot but starting one is much worse.”

   “Foreign governments have tried to foment unrest.”

   “The factor which had caused the militant five per cent to relax awhile from fomenting discord was the satellites. Sustained research in rocketry had at last succeeded in attaining one of its objectives. It had sent up a missile which stayed up.”

   “Blogjects always have some form of agency — they can foment action and participate; they have an assertive voice within the social web.”

   “Boris Johnson and senior Conservative ministers have vigorously condemned the violence in Washington, but have largely steered clear of condemning Trump for fomenting it.”

2. (transitive)To apply a poultice to; to bathe with a cloth or sponge.

   “Sties in the eye are irritating and disfiguring. Foment with warm water; at night apply a bread-and-milk poultice.”

   “The maid had entered with us, and began once more to foment the bruise upon her mistress's brow.”

noun

1. Fomentation.

   “He came in no conciliatory mood, and the foment was kept up.”