as in lineage
the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended
a family of good breeding that is well respected in the community
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in reproducing
to bring forth offspring
rabbits will breed very frequently unless they're kept separated
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in raising
to bring to maturity through care and education
he was bred to a life in the military by his father, himself an army captain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in creating
to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind)
this habit of favoring one employee over the others will breed resentment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in sleeping
to engage in sexual intercourse
cats breeding outside our window made a horrible racket last night
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in planting
to set permanently in the consciousness or mind-set
parents who breed in their children a deep respect for people of all classes
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 breeding
Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 12 Sep. 2025
While staying at this 1930s former hunting lodge in Kenya, there’s no need to head out on safari—one of the continent’s best animal encounters is found at this boutique hotel and giraffe breeding sanctuary.
—Jennifer Kester, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Ari Daniel, NPR, 10 Sep. 2025
They’re spotted foraging on golf courses and even breeding in suburban wetlands near Chicago.
—Tom Langen, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for breeding
Noun
Enormous names come to watch world-best horses, jockeys and trainers at a myriad of events, solidifying the countryside in and around Deauville as the main horse-breeding region in France.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 12 Sep. 2025
While staying at this 1930s former hunting lodge in Kenya, there’s no need to head out on safari—one of the continent’s best animal encounters is found at this boutique hotel and giraffe breeding sanctuary.
—Jennifer Kester, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
And the American redstart — a jetblack little fellow with orange splashes — pretty much stopped breeding here in the early 2000s.
—Ari Daniel, NPR, 10 Sep. 2025
They’re spotted foraging on golf courses and even breeding in suburban wetlands near Chicago.
—Tom Langen, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for breeding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breeding
Noun
-
That means the quality, context and lineage of data matter.—
Prashant Kondle,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
-
While modern — Tabone has a sharp eye for presentation — Patula’s menu is a representation of the city’s diverse lineage, a confluence of Cajun and Southern flavors blend with French and Spanish cuisine.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
By reproducing the tachocline, scientists now have a foundation for more reliable forecasts of solar activity.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Preliminary data seemed to show that the Iberian harvester ants, or Messor ibericus, were creating hybrid worker ants by reproducing with another species of harvester ant called Messor structor in the Mediterranean region.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Among them were countless era-defining releases that are still among the best movies ever made—of any genre—from the haunting Rebecca to the gripping Rear Window, and the ravishing Vertigo to the hair-raising Psycho.—
Radhika Seth,
Vogue,
13 Sep. 2025
-
There were times when raising kids, building careers, and paying bills felt overwhelming.—
Allen Buchanan,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Or those who know the difference between a smudging brush and a blending brush and how to use them when creating a smoky eye.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Improving efficiency in cooling systems reduces leaks, lowers energy use, and extends product life, creating both environmental and financial savings.—
Dianne Plummer,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Even modest circadian misalignment, characterized by sleeping and waking at hours that are out of sync with your body's clock, has been shown in Scientific Reports to impair sustained attention and reduce the ability to learn and assimilate new information.—
Julian Hayes II,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
-
The researchers were surprised to find that participants with chronic insomnia who reported sleeping more than usual had fewer white matter spots in the brain — areas where small vessel disease may have damaged brain tissue, which have been linked to cerebrovascular disease.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
From beginning stages of planning, the layout, walkways, irrigation, fertilization, planting varieties of roses and the tools needed for successful rose gardening.—
Ut Community Press,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Sep. 2025
-
To minimize risk, avoid planting Brussels sprouts or any of their relatives in the same spot every year.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
With over 300 votes and 60 comments on the Reddit post already, many internet users shared their thoughts on Rudy's unexpected ancestry.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
-
The artist better known to his international collectors as Móyò, has been evolving the character – a personal archetype, a spiritual sentinel, and a bridge between worlds – for over eight years, exploring his Yoruba ancestry and urban mythology.—
Natasha Gural,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
To develop a whole-virus vaccine, researchers must first spend months isolating and propagating the virus.—
Deborah Fuller,
CNN Money,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Continue propagating mature clumps by division in spring.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Breeding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breeding. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share