foment hatred

USAGE SUMMARY

"foment hatred" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to deliberately encourage or stir up feelings of hatred or anger among a group of people. Example: The politician's divisive rhetoric and constant attacks on certain groups only served to foment hatred among the population.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Like Bin Laden, the unsubtle aim of Isis in bringing terror to Western cities is to force division, foment hatred and spread religious and race war.

Independent

When you dehumanise migrants, using vile imagery and language, scapegoating them for a nation's ills and targeting them as job-stealing interlopers, you stoke prejudice and foment hatred.

The Guardian - Opinion

Indeed, in what Hammer sees as a dress rehearsal for World War II, the Japanese military seized upon the chaos to foment hatred of Koreans living in Japan.

The New York Times - Books

The sad truth is that the Arab countries have abandoned them to a bitter fate in order to foment hatred of Israel.

The New York Times

Of course there's plenty of potential for the web to amplify falsehoods, foment hatred, and facilitate violence, but I see the upside of connectedness completely swamping the darker possibilities….

The New York Times

"I would also like to thank everyone who, despite the emotions and impassioned atmosphere which were conjured up by the referendum, maintained a cool head and tolerance without yielding before provocations and attempts to foment hatred".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

You may not feel like the sort of person who foments hatred and worse.

The Guardian

Despite the limitation on oxytocin's social reach, its effect seems to be achieved more through inducing feelings of loyalty to the in-group than by fomenting hatred of the out-group.

The New York Times - Science

No issue has been more divisive than the retention of the "blood curse" from the Gospel of Matthew, which the villagers claim has scriptural authority and critics argue has fomented hatred of Jews.

The New York Times

A11 Britain Sets Deportation Rules The British home secretary published a catalog of terrorism-related offenses, setting the ground rules for Britain to bar or deport foreign militants accused of fomenting hatred, violence and extremism.

The New York Times

The regime foments hatred of the Great Satan in Washington not by chance, but to justify its hold on power.The deal is thus a lousy one, argues Israel's hawkish prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, because Iran will never honour it or negotiate a final agreement.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "foment hatred", ensure that the context clearly indicates a deliberate intention to incite negative emotions, rather than simply describing the existence of hatred.

Common error

Avoid using "foment hatred" to describe situations where hatred arises organically from circumstances. The phrase implies an active agent deliberately instigating the emotion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "foment hatred" functions as a verb phrase, where "foment" is a transitive verb requiring a direct object (in this case, "hatred"). Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature in English. It describes an action taken to instigate negative feelings.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "foment hatred" is a grammatically sound and readily usable expression, according to Ludwig AI, primarily employed within News & Media contexts to depict the intentional stirring up of animosity. While not exceedingly common, its usage carries a neutral to formal tone, effectively conveying deliberate actions that incite negative emotions. When employing this phrase, clarity in attributing the causation of hatred is essential. Alternatives such as ""incite animosity"" or ""stir up resentment"" may offer nuanced shades of meaning depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

incite animosity

Focuses on sparking initial feelings of animosity rather than nurturing existing ones; portrays a more direct and immediate causation.

stir up resentment

Highlights the activation of latent feelings of displeasure and bitterness, suggesting a more subtle manipulation of existing emotions.

provoke antagonism

Emphasizes a deliberate act designed to generate active opposition or hostility; less about the emotion itself and more about the behavioral response.

fan the flames of discord

Implies intensifying existing disagreements or conflicts, often through inflammatory actions or words.

fuel animosity

Suggests providing resources or incentives that enable animosity to flourish.

inflame passions

Focuses more broadly on arousing intense emotions, which may or may not be negative; often used in the context of political or ideological fervor.

exacerbate bitterness

Highlights the worsening of already existing feelings of resentment and disillusionment.

cultivate animosity

Suggests a deliberate and sustained effort to develop and nurture feelings of animosity over time.

breed hatred

Focuses on the generation of hatred from a source or condition; less about actively stirring it up.

sow seeds of discord

Implies introducing elements that will eventually lead to disharmony and conflict.

FAQs

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

You can use "foment hatred" to describe actions that deliberately incite animosity, such as "The propagandist used inflammatory rhetoric to "foment hatred" against immigrants".

What are some alternatives to "foment hatred"?

Alternatives include "incite animosity", "stir up resentment", or "provoke antagonism", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "fomenting of hatred"?

Yes, "fomenting of hatred" is grammatically correct. It's a gerund phrase that refers to the act of inciting hatred. However, using "to "foment hatred"" is more common.

What's the difference between "foment hatred" and "incite hatred"?

"Foment hatred" suggests nurturing or building upon existing negative feelings, while "incite hatred" implies a more immediate sparking of such emotions. The former is a gradual process, and the latter a more abrupt action.