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
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 bred
Labradors are often more energetic and bred for hunting, retrieving, and service work, whereas goldens are prized for their patience, friendliness, and trainability.
—
Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
That is to say, more chickens are bred and butchered each year than there are alive at this very moment in time.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
The upheaval in the economics of college sports, particularly with star athletes now making millions in above-board pay, has bred a new type of potential conflict, one with a more direct line between money donated to universities and the salaries paid to future NFL players.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 4 Sep. 2025
The voles were bred in captivity and then placed into pens to head to the river banks, the video shows.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
Ultimately, though, the odd man out — the new component in a structure which has bred extraordinary success — was Ten Hag.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2025
Rispoli and the 3-year-old Irish-bred also teamed to win the La Jolla Handicap on May 3.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Sep. 2025
The showy hybrids are simply bred for one big show and do not typically perpetuate.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025
Construction companies and the city are accused of negligence when the towers filled with storm waters that bred bacteria.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025
Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
That is to say, more chickens are bred and butchered each year than there are alive at this very moment in time.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
The upheaval in the economics of college sports, particularly with star athletes now making millions in above-board pay, has bred a new type of potential conflict, one with a more direct line between money donated to universities and the salaries paid to future NFL players.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 4 Sep. 2025
The voles were bred in captivity and then placed into pens to head to the river banks, the video shows.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
Ultimately, though, the odd man out — the new component in a structure which has bred extraordinary success — was Ten Hag.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2025
Rispoli and the 3-year-old Irish-bred also teamed to win the La Jolla Handicap on May 3.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Sep. 2025
The showy hybrids are simply bred for one big show and do not typically perpetuate.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025
Construction companies and the city are accused of negligence when the towers filled with storm waters that bred bacteria.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bred
Verb
-
Boom, that prevents the true underlying disorder of being delusional from being propagated by the AI.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
-
But Kennedy has already propagated an insidious revolution within the agencies under his control, using a playbook familiar to illiberal leaders—culling expertise, silencing critics, and weaponizing administrative procedure to grant a veneer of legitimacy to his actions.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The decision upheld a previous denial by the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission over traffic concerns raised by city officials and in more than 300 public comments.—
Rose Evans
September 10,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Sep. 2025
-
After new state data showed substantial academic gains, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education members defended a six-figure consulting contract Tuesday that raised questions earlier this year about family connections to the district.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Combined, these economic and political pressures created fertile ground for social mobilization.—
Nir Kshetri,
The Conversation,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Nothing about disabled people should be created without disabled people and this principle becomes even more critical when dealing with AI systems that can perpetuate or challenge existing biases.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Friedman slept three hours the night before, in preparation for the unveiling of his biggest feat yet.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Feel like Bryson Tiller is being slept on and will be a factor by the end of the year.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Although some people may see leaves changing color before late October, this often happens because the plants are landscape trees, or trees that grew after seeds from other areas were planted, said Seiler.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Since this aphid attracts a wide variety of beneficial insects that prey on it and pecan pests, crape myrtles have been planted in pecan orchards with a positive impact on pecan harvests.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.—
Alan Lightman
September 12,
Literary Hub,
12 Sep. 2025
-
But this plan ignores the fact that an interlocked ecology cannot be reproduced by just relocating some species.—
M. Rajshekhar,
Time,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
That vote was meant to provide more clarity over the balance of power in government but instead fostered more acrimony and division, with parties on both the left and right winning respective rounds of the election.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
8 Sep. 2025
-
At just 4 to 5 weeks old, the kittens are still adjusting to life without their mother after being fostered through A Place for Meow Rescue, a rescue based in Rapid City, South Dakota.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Canales was brought here to bring a creative offense to town.—
Mike Kaye
September 10,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Jenkins voted to continue mask mandates in Brevard County schools, even after the DeSantis administration directed districts to lift them, a stance that brought protests outside her home, threats against her family, and national media scrutiny.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bred.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bred. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share