ferment 1 of 2

noun

ˈfər-ˌment How to pronounce ferment (audio)
Definition of fermentnext
as in turmoil
a disturbed or uneasy state the city was in ferment as its residents nervously awaited the outcome of the referendum vote

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ferment

2 of 2

verb

(ˌ)fər-ˈment How to pronounce ferment (audio)
as in to provoke
to bring (something volatile or intense) into being the various social and economic factors that fermented the major cultural change during the U.S. during the 1960s

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ferment
Noun
Eat raw food only before four in the afternoon, because raw vegetables in the evening sit and ferment in the gut rather than doing anyone any good. — Jamie Timson, TheWeek, 24 July 2026 Agave ferments have roots in Mesoamerican culture, but mezcal specifically was invented during Mexico’s colonial era with the introduction of Filipino-style stills. — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 July 2026
Verb
Some of these varieties are also traditionally fermented, a process that can provide probiotics, notes Messer. — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026 Traditional soy sauce, originating from easy East Asia, is made by fermenting soybeans, wheat, and salt with a mold called Aspergillus (or koji). — Merve Ceylan, HEALTH, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ferment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ferment
  1. turmoil
  2. provoke
  3. fermentation
  4. raise
  5. unrest
  6. promote
Noun
  • Syria’s leaders are now positioning the country to benefit from a resurgence of regional turmoil.
    — Jesse Marks, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Geopolitical turmoil, including war in the Middle East and US ​import tariffs, has brought urgency to an issue Icelanders have debated on and off for decades.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of turmoil
Verb
  • By the mid-nineteenth century, the it-narrative began to interest authors invested less in provoking excitement than in guiding the moral development of their readers.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Ukraine’s recent strikes into Russia also have exposed weaknesses in Russia’s air defenses, which could prompt Putin to think twice about provoking a retaliatory attack.
    — Emma Burrows, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of provoke
Noun
  • Across the Quilceda Creek portfolio, all fermentations are isolated by block and clone.
    — Mike DeSimone, Robb Report, 30 Aug. 2026
  • An essential stop on my fermentation pilgrimage, while not part of the official trail, was the quiet izakaya at Hakko House Nagaoka, a two-room accommodation.
    — Adam H. Graham, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of fermentation
Verb
  • The college apologized for concerns raised by the comments, and later Monday, EMCC announced Rice’s promotion.
    — Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The mere possibility of losing its critical space assets in a surprise attack could push the United States to use its forces early or to delegate launch authority in ways that raise the risk of an accident, to avoid the devastating consequences.
    — Jeffrey Lewis, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of raise
Noun
  • That march, an inflection point in the Civil Rights Movement, also came at a fraught moment for the country, when economic headwinds, civil unrest, political division and the war in Vietnam bitterly divided Americans.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • That march, an inflection point in the Civil Rights Movement, came at a fraught moment for the country, when economic headwinds, civil unrest, political division and the Vietnam War bitterly divided Americans.
    — Matt Brown, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of unrest
Verb
  • When applied to the scalp, certain peptides can send signals that promote follicle function, extend the growth phase of the hair cycle, and strengthen the tissue surrounding the follicle.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Trump has also promoted the destruction of Iran's nuclear facilities and navy, and the reduction in missile and drone capabilities, as measures of success.
    — Bart Jansen, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of promote

Browse Nearby Words

ferine
ferment
fermentation
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Cite this Entry

“Ferment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ferment. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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