FERMENT Synonyms | Collins English Thesaurus (2025)

ferment

1(noun) in the sense of commotion

Definition

excitement and unrest caused by change or uncertainty

The country is in a state of political ferment.

Synonyms

commotion

He heard a terrible commotion outside.

turmoil

a year of political turmoil

unrest

The real danger is civil unrest in the east of the country.

turbulence

a region often beset by religious turbulence

trouble

Riot police are being deployed to prevent any trouble.

heat

It was all done in the heat of the moment.

excitement

The audience was in a state of great excitement.

glow

fever

I got married in a fever of excitement.

disruption

frenzy

stew

furore

an international furore over the plan

uproar

The announcement caused uproar in the crowd.

agitation

He was in a state of emotional agitation.

tumult

the recent tumult in global financial markets

hubbub

brouhaha

imbroglio

state of unrest

See examples for synonyms

Opposites

quiet , hush , tranquillity , stillness , calmness , peacefulness , restfulness

2(noun) in the sense of yeast

Definition

any substance, such as yeast, that causes fermentation

Synonyms

yeast

mother

bacteria

leaven

The ingredients include wholemeal flour, wheat leven, water and salt.

leavening

barm

fermentation agent

mother-of-vinegar

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1(verb) in the sense of brew

Definition

to undergo or cause to undergo fermentation

red wine made from grapes left to ferment for three weeks

Synonyms

brew

I brew my own iced tea.

froth

The sea froths over my feet.

concoct

He said the prisoner had concocted the story to get a lighter sentence.

effervesce

These tablets effervesce when water is added.

work

rise

I covered the dough to let it rise.

heat

boil

I stood in the kitchen, waiting for the water to boil.

bubble

The fermenting tea bubbled over the top.

foam

We watched the water foam and bubble.

seethe

a seething cauldron of broth

leaven

They used sour dough to leaven their bread.

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2(verb) in the sense of stir up

They tried to ferment political unrest.

Synonyms

stir up

excite

The proposal failed to excite our interest.

provoke

His comments have provoked a shocked reaction.

rouse

He did more to rouse the crowd than anybody else.

agitate

The thought of them inheriting all these things agitated her.

inflame

They hold the rebels responsible for inflaming the villagers.

incite

He incited his fellow citizens to take revenge.

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3(verb) in the sense of smoulder

Definition

to undergo or cause to undergo fermentation

His anger still ferments after a decade.

Synonyms

smoulder

He smouldered as he drove home for lunch.

seethe

fester

Resentments are starting to fester.

heat

Meanwhile, heat the tomatoes and oil in a pan.

boil

foment

See examples for synonyms

see foment

Additional synonyms

in the sense of agitate

Definition

to excite, disturb, or trouble

The thought of them inheriting all these things agitated her.

Synonyms

upset,

worry,

trouble,

disturb,

excite,

alarm,

stimulate,

distract,

rouse,

ruffle,

inflame,

incite,

unnerve,

disconcert,

disquiet,

fluster,

perturb,

faze,

work someone up,

give someone grief (British, South Africa),

arouse,

ferment

in the sense of agitation

He was in a state of emotional agitation.

Synonyms

turmoil,

worry,

trouble,

upset,

alarm,

confusion,

excitement,

disturbance,

distraction,

upheaval,

stimulation,

flurry,

outcry,

clamour,

arousal,

ferment,

disquiet,

commotion,

fluster,

lather (informal),

incitement,

tumult,

discomposure,

tizzy, tizz or tiz-woz (informal)

in the sense of boil

Definition

to bubble and be agitated like something boiling

I stood in the kitchen, waiting for the water to boil.

Synonyms

simmer,

bubble,

foam,

churn,

seethe,

fizz,

froth,

effervesce