1
as in spraying
to cover by or as if by scattering something over or on
sow the fields with maize in early spring, and the crop should be ready by late summer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in planting
to put or set into the ground to grow
first sow the seeds in potting soil
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in breeding
to set permanently in the consciousness or mind-set
a malicious neighbor who sowed within him nagging suspicions about his wife
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sowing
In addition, without ACIP review, the HHS secretary removed several vaccines from those previously routinely recommended, sowing tremendous confusion.
—
Jesse L. Goodman, STAT, 18 May 2026
In Taipei, Cheng spoke to CNN just steps away from the towering bronze statue of former KMT leader Chiang Kai-shek, whose defeat by communist forces during the Chinese civil war eight decades ago led to his retreat to the island – sowing the seed of tensions across the Taiwan Strait ever since.
—Wayne Chang, CNN Money, 10 May 2026
Plant radishes around the base of tomato plant to trap flea beetles, sowing seeds a few weeks prior to setting tomatoes.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 May 2026
Many of these humans already made use of machines, like the crop-planters that have automated the tedious work of sowing edamame beans by hand.
—Billy Perrigo, Time, 8 May 2026
Teri Speight, gardening coach, podcast host, and co-author of The Urban Garden, recommends sowing seeds in the fall.
—Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 4 May 2026
He is accused of lying his way onto the staff in the first place, manipulating young, female and minority employees to cover his tracks and sowing an environment of fear within the organization, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
Some northern tribes referred to it as the budding moon or leaf budding moon, while others called it the planting moon, marking a time ideal for sowing crops for the months ahead.
—ABC News, 29 Apr. 2026
After Fuqua does interesting work sowing seeds of folly amid the star’s glorious rise, the movie gives up and turns to total sanctification.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2026
Jesse L. Goodman, STAT, 18 May 2026
In Taipei, Cheng spoke to CNN just steps away from the towering bronze statue of former KMT leader Chiang Kai-shek, whose defeat by communist forces during the Chinese civil war eight decades ago led to his retreat to the island – sowing the seed of tensions across the Taiwan Strait ever since.
—Wayne Chang, CNN Money, 10 May 2026
Plant radishes around the base of tomato plant to trap flea beetles, sowing seeds a few weeks prior to setting tomatoes.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 May 2026
Many of these humans already made use of machines, like the crop-planters that have automated the tedious work of sowing edamame beans by hand.
—Billy Perrigo, Time, 8 May 2026
Teri Speight, gardening coach, podcast host, and co-author of The Urban Garden, recommends sowing seeds in the fall.
—Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 4 May 2026
He is accused of lying his way onto the staff in the first place, manipulating young, female and minority employees to cover his tracks and sowing an environment of fear within the organization, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
Some northern tribes referred to it as the budding moon or leaf budding moon, while others called it the planting moon, marking a time ideal for sowing crops for the months ahead.
—ABC News, 29 Apr. 2026
After Fuqua does interesting work sowing seeds of folly amid the star’s glorious rise, the movie gives up and turns to total sanctification.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sowing
Verb
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An attorney for two detainees has accused guards of severely beating and pepper-spraying detainees.—
Mike Schneider,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
-
Depending on the level of dirt, dust, and grime, cleaning vinyl siding can be as simple as spraying it down with a garden hose.—
Timothy Dale,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 May 2026
Verb
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The problem is that the AI is misleadingly planting very sour ideas in my head and could easily push me into a much worse mental condition.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
-
Kapuga nods to men digging mud out of shin-deep water, preparing the paddy fields for planting rice.—
Diaa Hadid,
NPR,
16 May 2026
Verb
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The findings suggest that restoration could be improved by selecting or breeding eelgrass better suited to future conditions.—
Annika Hammerschlag,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
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Prevent mosquitos from breeding by eliminating standing water, the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District said.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
11 May 2026
Verb
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And Crawford has been sprinkling in a secret catchphrase no one has caught on to yet.—
Rohan Nadkarni,
NBC news,
18 May 2026
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For this reason, Carpenter recommends using bait stations that contain borax, rather than sprinkling borax directly into the garden.—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
17 May 2026
Verb
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Additional employer or philanthropic initiatives aimed at seeding accounts could further increase early balances.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
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Nix and Drake Maye finally square off in a matchup that could have massive conference-seeding implications, and could feature a blizzard in Foxborough instead of a blizzard in Denver this time around.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
13 May 2026
Verb
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The 164-acre Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park has vibrant gardens, almost five miles of walking trails, and a lovely pond, with both permanent and rotating art installations dotting the expansive property.—
Kristy Tolley,
Travel + Leisure,
16 May 2026
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Create a Hummingbird Buffet Rather than dotting single specimens around your garden, plant a hummingbird highway.—
Erica Browne Grivas,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sowing. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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