bred

past tense of breed
1
as in propagated
to bring forth offspring rabbits will breed very frequently unless they're kept separated

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
3
4
as in slept
to engage in sexual intercourse cats breeding outside our window made a horrible racket last night

Synonyms & Similar Words

5

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 The conservancy is currently working to release a group of ploughshare tortoises bred there after the species was close to extinction because of poaching. — Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026 As a child of parents who bred him to be the next Green Lantern, John knows full well the conflict between conscience and instinct, a ceaseless war that threatens to explode to the surface. — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026 However, Andersen believed the mantra bred a culture of denial. — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026 The Aquarium of the Pacific oversees the tadpole-to-frog metamorphosis of hundreds of tadpoles sent from the Los Angeles and San Diego zoos, which bred them. — ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026 As part of the documentary project, Blavin traveled to Ridglan Farms in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin, a facility that bred beagles for biomedical research. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2026 Sometimes a young cow may not be bred during the rut, but will come back in heat later in the year. — Jim Zumbo, Outdoor Life, 10 Sep. 2026 There are several types of dogs that were originally bred for work, making these breeds excellent hiking partners. — Madeline Gunderson, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026 Losing has bred frustration and, with it, the soundtrack of the Angels’ summer consists of frustrated jeers and urges for Moreno to be out. — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bred
Verb
  • Cultivation The plant grows naturally on riverbeds, grasslands, and human-disturbed areas; it can be propagated from both seeds and stem cuttings.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Propagating ‘Kaleidoscope’ Abelia ‘Kaleidoscope’ Abelia is patent-protected and cannot be propagated.
    — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The row reached the competition jury’s press conference the day after the opening ceremony, where a reporter raised the question of historical fact and creative freedom.
    — Ophélie Surcouf, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Alternatively, funding is raised by high-yield corporate bond issuance or private credit borrowing.
    — Hugh Leask, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Once that was created, the company answered the demand of its customers for a physical location.
    — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The entry is paired with a suite of portraits of a number of Black men and women wearing MooreWraps, versatile multi-wear garments created by Moore’s sister with proceeds donated to victims of domestic violence and incarceration.
    — Stephanie Wambugu, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The findings at Abric Romaní are different because the finds come from a place where Neanderthals lived, slept, cooked, and made tools over the course of some 20,000 years.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Most dogs slept on the bed or in the same room as their humans.
    — Gina Vivinetto, NBC news, 7 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • That same day, the complaint says Alfozan left his bag unattended in another room, and the company's security personnel opened it and found his ID, wallet and another recording device similar to the one planted in the conference room.
    — Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Owned by the Tasca D’Almerita family since 1830, the area is planted with wheat, grain, olive trees, and almond trees in addition to native and international grape varieties.
    — Mike DeSimone, Robb Report, 11 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The company reproduced them on playing cards, business cards.
    — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The mounting holes, locating slots, and curved bodies reproduced clearly, although visible layer lines and some surface unevenness made these less polished than my fine-detail test prints.
    — Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Mexico was struggling with debt crises, declining energy revenues, and the related breakdown of the ruling party’s half-century-old corporatist model, which had fostered a centralized, closed economy.
    — Robert B. Zoellick, Foreign Affairs, 9 Oct. 2026
  • This goldilocks amount of new technology in the ’90s also fostered a uniquely creative period.
    — Sheena McKenzie, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • But over the course of the past decade, an influx of entrepreneurs plus a comprehensive plan led by the city and REV Birmingham, a nonprofit focused on revitalization and economic development, has brought the center back to life.
    — Leslie Pariseau, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Post-production brought three-hour Zoom calls over cuts and music cues.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026

Cite this Entry

“Bred.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bred. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster