stoke
v.v. to add fuel to a fire to keep it burning. You can also use it to describe making a feeling or an argument much stronger.
v. to add fuel to a furnace or fire; by extension, to incite or encourage a strong emotion or public sentiment. Transitive — requires a direct object.
He used a long metal rod to stoke the fire.
The politician's controversial comments served only to stoke the anger of the protesters.
By leaking the confidential documents, the whistleblower intended to stoke public debate regarding the ethics of the surveillance program.
From Middle English stoken, from Middle Dutch stoken (“to poke, thrust”) or Middle Low German stoken (“to poke, thrust”), from Old Dutch stokon or Old Saxon stokon, both from Proto-West Germanic stokōn, from Proto-Germanic stukōną (“to be stiff, push”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)tewg- (“to push, beat”). Cognate with Middle High German stoken (“to pierce, jab”), Norwegian Nynorsk stauka (“to push, thrust”). Alternative etymology derives the Middle English word from Old French estoquer, estochier (“to thrust, strike”), from the same Germanic source. More at stock.
From a back-formation of stoker, apparently from Dutch stoker, from stoken (“to kindle a fire, incite, instigate”), from Middle Dutch stoken (“to poke, thrust”), from stock (“stick, stock”), see: tandenstoker. Ultimately the same word as above.
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object; often used metaphorically with abstract nouns like 'fears', 'anger', or 'interest'.