foment

1. To promote the growth of; incite.
2. To instigate or foster.

The easiest way to remember the meaning of ‘Foment’ is to relate it to ‘Foam’. Now foam starts to appear in soapy water when you start to ‘stir up’ things. Similarly foment means to stir up or incite people.

1. To foment or to incite people to plan a revolution without thinking can have very serious consequences!
2. In order to foment a revolt among the farm hands, the revolutionary forces spread lies.