verb

foment

foh-MENT/fəʊˈment/

To stir up unrest or trouble.

The instigator foments trouble by offering a stone and encouraging further vandalism.

An instigator supplies a stone and emphatically directs another person toward a partly smashed window, visibly encouraging further vandalism without doing the smashing herself.

Etymology

A fomentum was a warm application used in treatment. Applying warmth became an image for encouraging growth, giving foment its figurative meaning of stimulating unrest or other troublesome activity.

In context

Caitlin Johnstone1:24

the us empire doesn't use sanctions to punish leaders it uses them to foment unrest and hopefully spark a civil war or a coup

The Mainstream Worldview Is Self Evidently Bullshit: Notes From The Edge Of The Narrative Matrix

More examples

His accusations fomented resentment among the staff.
The mayor accuses her opponents of fomenting disorder.
Divisive speeches can foment hostility between neighbors.

Forms

foment · foments · fomented · fomenting

Similar words

incite: Emphasizes urging people to act, especially violently or unlawfully.
instigate: Emphasizes starting trouble rather than encouraging it to grow.
provoke: Emphasizes triggering a reaction rather than fostering ongoing unrest.