plant/sow the seeds of

phrase

1

: to cause (an idea, feeling, etc.) to be in someone's mind

Opponents have succeeded in planting/sowing the seeds of suspicion/doubt in our team.

2

: to create a situation in which (something) is likely or certain to happen or develop

They have planted/sowed the seeds of their own destruction.

Examples of plant/sow the seeds of in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Words build narratives, and narratives sow the seeds of revolution. — Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026

The same thing happened to me when it was revealed that in a move to sow the seeds of confusion, our beloved Dorinda Medley — after a triumphant return to the show — was murdered. — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2026

Similarly, in 2018, the Cambridge Analytica scandal revealed how the data of 87 million Facebook users was being used to plant and sow the seeds of political divisiveness between the right and left. — Matene Toure, Wired News, 26 Nov. 2025

Differences lead to understanding Zootopia 2 manages to discreetly plant the seeds of diversity and inclusion into its story. — Katie Grant, Parents, 25 Nov. 2025