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
Examples 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
Scott Travers, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
The day before the experiment, randomly selected males and females from different breeding tanks were put into separate glass tanks.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 8 Jan. 2025
Many men earned money through breeding and betting.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2025
Specialty nurseries devoted to breeding, growing and selling rare and unusual plants are slowly disappearing in Southern California, due to high real estate costs and waning interest (or ignorance) from gardeners and landscape designers.
—Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for breeding 
Noun
The black-winged petrel—a seabird whose breeding success was once as low as 2.5%—experienced a dramatic increase to 67% following the removal of the rodents, according to an August 2022 study published in Bird Conservation International.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
The day before the experiment, randomly selected males and females from different breeding tanks were put into separate glass tanks.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 8 Jan. 2025
Many men earned money through breeding and betting.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2025
Specialty nurseries devoted to breeding, growing and selling rare and unusual plants are slowly disappearing in Southern California, due to high real estate costs and waning interest (or ignorance) from gardeners and landscape designers.
—Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for breeding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breeding
Noun
-
The team sequenced 50 genomes from this single community and determined that the female lineage was dominant.—
Monica Cull,
Discover Magazine,
15 Jan. 2025
-
The most dramatic beauty moment of the night, Stone tapped into a long lineage of iconic Hollywood short hair styles that have become timeless reference photos to take to one’s salon.—
Ashley Davis,
WWD,
6 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
The year also began with a strong El Niño event, which occurs when the ocean in the Eastern Pacific releases large amounts of heat to the atmosphere, raising global temperatures.—
Lauren Sommer,
NPR,
24 Dec. 2024
-
The suit alleges that millions of Times articles were used without authorization in training AI models, raising fundamental questions about intellectual property rights in the digital age.—
Sol Rashidi,
Forbes,
24 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
While speaking independently, James and Josh concurred that AI, electronic trading platforms, and algorithmic trading is creating a technological arms race.—
Barnet Sherman,
Forbes,
31 Dec. 2024
-
Workplace evolutions spurred by technology even impact those who are creating them.—
Aliza Knox,
Forbes,
31 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
With this new evidence, the research team now has a better understanding of what this society was like: a society with a deep respect for its ancestry and its leaders.—
Monica Cull,
Discover Magazine,
15 Jan. 2025
-
Many Argentine people have Spanish, Italian and German ancestry.—
Jenna Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
15 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Running a dispensary came with unique challenges, from navigating compliance to fostering meaningful community connections.—
Javier Hasse,
Forbes,
6 Jan. 2025
-
Mastering the balance between the two is essential for fostering innovation, empowering your team and driving sustainable growth.—
Matthew Conlin,
Forbes,
6 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Dobbs, who turns 30 on Sunday, doesn’t have Darnold’s pedigree and arm strength.—
Matt Barrows,
The Athletic,
23 Jan. 2025
-
Alex Bregman The veteran third baseman boasts championship pedigree and plenty of production over nine seasons with the Houston Astros, yet Bregman’s free-agent market has been slower to develop than expected.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Looking down on his realm — a city infested by corruption scandals multiplying like mold spores — Carollo embraced the applause.—
Linda Robertson,
Miami Herald,
8 Jan. 2025
-
And the options are only multiplying.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
23 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
The weather should improve across the country by Christmas Day, according to the National Weather Service, as the East Coast storm system bringing snow to the region will leave by Tuesday evening.—
Alison Durkee,
Forbes,
24 Dec. 2024
-
Christmas centers on humility and grace — the birth of a savior in the humblest of settings, bringing a hopeful message of personal redemption and universal love.—
Priscilla Whitehead,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near breeding
Cite this Entry
“Breeding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breeding. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share