BREED Synonyms: 210 Similar and Opposite Words

breed 1 of 2

noun

Definition of breed

as in type

a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common some people say that honest politicians are a rare breed

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Relevance

breed

2 of 2

verb

ˈbrēd

as in to reproduce

to bring forth offspring rabbits will breed very frequently unless they're kept separated

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as in to raise

to bring to maturity through care and education he was bred to a life in the military by his father, himself an army captain

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to cause

to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) this habit of favoring one employee over the others will breed resentment

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to sleep

to engage in sexual intercourse cats breeding outside our window made a horrible racket last night

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as in to plant

to set permanently in the consciousness or mind-set parents who breed in their children a deep respect for people of all classes

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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 breed

Noun

Over the years, Kwan and his team also learned to work with a new breed of younger billionaires. — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026 In Namibia’s remote, soul-stirring wilderness—one of the least inhabited places on earth—French hotelier Arnaud Zannier has created a new breed of hotel. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Oct. 2026

Verb

The organizations that succeed over the next decade will likely have invested in a culture that breeds adaptability through genuine empathy, honest communication and support. — Suzanne Konstance, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026 Advertisement There was plenty of arguing and in-fighting, as such a tense situation naturally breeds. — Barry Levitt, Time, 6 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for breed

Recent Examples of Synonyms for breed

Noun

From July through early January, this sleepy town catches some of the world’s most consistently powerful gusts, the kind kitesurfers cross oceans for.

— Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Nov. 2026
The rare gem named Owishi by Namibia’s president is described as the largest diamond of its kind recovered at the country’s mining operation in two decades.

— Luisa Yanez, Miami Herald, 12 Nov. 2026

Definition of kind

Verb

Andy’s view The prospect of steep losses for Republicans in today’s midterms and the lame-duck presidency that ensues regardless raise a fundamental question about the outlook for a budding US-China détente.

— Andy Browne, semafor.com, 3 Nov. 2026
In one video, Basabe appears to raise his voice at a man before turning around and shouting at a woman.

— Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of raise

Verb

The agency analyzed the genetic sequence of the virus from the person who died in Washington and found no changes that would make the virus spread more easily or cause more severe illness, a CDC spokesperson said.

— Mike Stobbe, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026
Over that period, the Maillard reaction causes sugars and amino acids to react under heat, which gradually turns the cloves dark.

— Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of cause

Verb

Guest rooms’ queen pull-out sofa beds make extra space for sleeping kiddos, and the hotel can also have a travel crib set up for the littlest ones.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Nov. 2026
Other options may include a custom oral appliance that repositions the jaw, sleeping on your side, limiting alcohol, quitting smoking, treating nasal congestion or pursuing weight management when appropriate.

— Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 10 Nov. 2026

Definition of sleep

Verb

Montreal took a 2-0 lead in the first period when Anderson planted himself in front of Swayman and deflected in a rebound for his eighth goal of the season.

— CBS News, CBS News, 13 Nov. 2026
Mushrooms are a seriously big deal here—during my visit, I was invited to drill a hole in the side of a birch tree and plant a chaga mushroom with a small marker beside it, to encourage me to come back and check on its progress on my next visit.

— Liam Hess, Vogue, 11 Nov. 2026

Definition of plant

Verb

Though the American steakhouse originated in New York City, Las Vegas helped propagate and elevate the genre into the ultimate form of aspirational dining.

— Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
View this post on Instagram Because of the news of her divorce, the post trickled through the celebrity gossip outlets, and that coverage in turn propagated the post through Google search.

— Mia Sato, The Verge, 15 Oct. 2026