foment fear

USAGE SUMMARY

"foment fear" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to encourage or stir up feelings of fear or anxiety. Example: The politician strategically used fear-mongering tactics to foment fear among the population, in order to gain their support during the election.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

History shows that's a recipe guaranteed to foment fear, resistance, and — ultimately —failure.

Harvard Business Review

According to his indictment, Mr. Bikindi composed songs that helped foment fear and hatred of the Tutsi.

The New York Times

Gov. Jan Brewer's groundless generalizations about the undocumented population foment fear of the unknown among her constituents, making for good politics but bad policy.

The New York Times

"The terrorist attack that struck Munich killing many people is a disgusting act that aims to foment fear in Germany after other European countries," Hollande said.

The Guardian

Although investigators believe Mr Salhi was acting alone on Friday, they suspect the incident could have been choreographed by others in an attempt to foment fear and anti-Muslim anger in France.

Independent

Yes, it is frustrating to listen to those who foment fear, suspicion and intolerance, who don't know the mistakes of history, and are in the midst of repeating them.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

As I wrote in considering "pink slime:" I'm all for open disclosure of food contents, but not when the labeling effort is aimed at fomenting fear over facts.

The New York Times

I particularly encourage you to read Maureen Ogle's fine post, "Want A Little History With That Pink Slime?" I'm all for open disclosure of food contents, but not when the labeling effort is aimed at fomenting fear over facts.

The New York Times

Other examples could be cited, but the important point is that people everywhere have good reasons to be suspicious when the US government issues warnings that have the effect of fomenting fear and quelling criticism.

The Guardian - Opinion

Now, I'm not going to accuse the entire media of fomenting fear, just for profit.

Huffington Post

CNN's Jake Tapper has once again called out President Donald Trump for "fomenting fear and doling out falsehoods" ahead of the midterm elections.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "foment fear", consider the specific nuance you want to convey: are you emphasizing the beginning of fear, its growth, or its spread? Choose synonyms or related phrases that precisely match your intended meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "foment fear" in contexts where a more neutral term like "raise concern" or "highlight risk" would be more appropriate. "Foment fear" carries a strong connotation of intentional manipulation or negativity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "foment fear" functions primarily as a verb phrase, where "foment" (verb) acts upon "fear" (noun). This describes the action of instigating or promoting fear, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "foment fear" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that describes the act of stirring up or instigating fear. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s often used in contexts involving criticism of actions or rhetoric perceived as manipulative. While not exceedingly common, the phrase appears consistently in news and media sources. When employing this phrase, be mindful of its strong negative connotation and consider alternative phrasings like "raise concerns" or "highlight risks" in more neutral contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

instigate fear

Focuses on the act of initiating fear.

stir up fear

Emphasizes the action of arousing or awakening fear.

fuel fear

Highlights the act of providing impetus or energy to existing fear.

incite fear

Focuses on prompting or urging someone to feel fear.

generate fear

Highlights the creation or production of fear.

spread fear

Emphasizes the dissemination of fear among a group.

promote fear

Focuses on actively encouraging the feeling of fear.

whip up fear

Suggests a more aggressive and forceful instigation of fear.

exacerbate fear

Highlights the worsening or intensification of existing fear.

amplify fear

Focuses on increasing the intensity or magnitude of fear.

FAQs

How can I use "foment fear" in a sentence?

You can use "foment fear" to describe actions or rhetoric that intentionally stirs up feelings of anxiety or terror. For example, "The politician was accused of using divisive language to foment fear among voters."

What's a less accusatory way to express the idea of "foment fear"?

Instead of "foment fear", consider using phrases like "raise concerns", "highlight risks", or "increase awareness of threats", depending on the context.

Is it more common to say "foment fear" or "fomenting fear"?

While both forms are grammatically correct, "foment fear" (verb + noun) is generally used to describe a general action or tendency, while "fomenting fear" (gerund phrase) emphasizes the ongoing process of instilling fear.

What is the difference between "foment fear" and "incite panic"?

"Foment fear" implies a deliberate and sustained effort to create a feeling of fear, while "incite panic" suggests a sudden and more immediate instigation of widespread alarm and disarray.