1
as in propagated
to bring forth offspring
rabbits will breed very frequently unless they're kept separated
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in raised
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 created
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 slept
to engage in sexual intercourse
cats breeding outside our window made a horrible racket last night
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in planted
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
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Recent Examples of bred
Originally developed in Germany in the late 19th century, the boxer was bred for hunting, guarding, and later for military and police work, which can make some sense of why the boxer in the video clip was so keen to observe the camera.
—
Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
They weren’t bred for their brains, either.
—Bruce Headlam, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
German hybridizer Kordes crossed the red hybrid musk rose, ‘Robin Hood’ (1927) developed by Joseph Pemberton in England, and the white hybrid tea, ‘Virgo’ (1927), bred in France by Charles Mallein.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Oct. 2025
Owners of The Grand, 1125 Grand Blvd, claim the parking lot’s owners have failed to provide adequate surveillance and security, and that their failure to do so has bred a hot spot for criminal activity.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2025
The colt doesn’t know the racetrack he was bred for – the pride of Ruidoso – lies in ruins for the second year running, gutted by floodwaters that turned familiar dirt into a sucking bog of mud.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
The series was bred for their more manageable growth habits, good form, and prolific blooms.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 1 Oct. 2025
Continuity, and a drive to achieve what had slipped away in last year’s finals loss to the New York Liberty, bred a historic season — a Lynx franchise-record 34 wins and a team that led the league in offensive and defensive ratings.
—Ben Pickman, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
If so, look for varieties adapted to or bred for hotter, more humid weather.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Sep. 2025
Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
They weren’t bred for their brains, either.
—Bruce Headlam, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
German hybridizer Kordes crossed the red hybrid musk rose, ‘Robin Hood’ (1927) developed by Joseph Pemberton in England, and the white hybrid tea, ‘Virgo’ (1927), bred in France by Charles Mallein.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Oct. 2025
Owners of The Grand, 1125 Grand Blvd, claim the parking lot’s owners have failed to provide adequate surveillance and security, and that their failure to do so has bred a hot spot for criminal activity.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2025
The colt doesn’t know the racetrack he was bred for – the pride of Ruidoso – lies in ruins for the second year running, gutted by floodwaters that turned familiar dirt into a sucking bog of mud.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
The series was bred for their more manageable growth habits, good form, and prolific blooms.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 1 Oct. 2025
Continuity, and a drive to achieve what had slipped away in last year’s finals loss to the New York Liberty, bred a historic season — a Lynx franchise-record 34 wins and a team that led the league in offensive and defensive ratings.
—Ben Pickman, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
If so, look for varieties adapted to or bred for hotter, more humid weather.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bred
Verb
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The idea propagated by Saturday Night Live skits and sitcom one-liners that Lilith Fair was a misandrist showcase for joyless, hormonal angst was totally alien to accounts of what being there actually felt like.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Using pure well water, wild yeasts (some propagated from its own fruit trees and beehives), local and heirloom grains, hops, and fruits, and house sour cultures, the brewery creates, ages, blends and bottles unique, small-batch beers exhibiting the wildness of Oregon terroir.—
Ben Davidson Correspondent,
Oc Register,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Trent and Amber wed in 1998, and the couple raised their five kids in Forsyth, Ga.—
Emily Weaver,
PEOPLE,
15 Oct. 2025
-
The entrepreneur and yoga instructor has previously spoken out about facing criticism over the authenticity of her Spanish accent (she was raised bilingual).—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The creation of this content included the use of AI based on templates created, reviewed and edited by journalists in the newsroom.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
12 Oct. 2025
-
The creation of this content included the use of AI based on templates created, reviewed and edited by journalists in the newsroom.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
There were also reports that the two slept on separate beds at Windsor Castle.—
StyleCaster Editors,
StyleCaster,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Loli already inside the apartment, watching from the window as her mother slept.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Hidden inside the bathroom of her family home was a secret camera — planted by her second husband, a respected local physician.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Loyd, Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray all bragged to Hammon on the championship podium that their plants are still alive — and ran with the metaphor all season of being planted, not buried.—
Sabreena Merchant,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The transcripts survive, in the Royal Library in Copenhagen, and have even been reproduced in facsimile.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Oct. 2025
-
No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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And perhaps, as Elizabeth Gilbert’s famous book Eat, Pray, Love comes to mind, something more like love might have been fostered between them.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Oct. 2025
-
The success of these new immigrants in a racist institution fostered resentment among longer-standing American minorities.—
Arabelle Sicardi,
Allure,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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And then the English joined in, claiming that Joseph of Arimathea brought the holy grail containing the blood and sweat of the crucified Christ to Glastonbury.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
16 Oct. 2025
-
New ownership has brought investment and a collegiate approach.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bred.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bred. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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