Synonyms of breed

breed 1 of 2

noun

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• type
• kind
• genre
• stripe
• sort
• variety
• species
• nature
• description
• kidney
• manner
• strain
• class
• ilk
• order
• persuasion
• feather
• like
• model
• category
• specimen
• family
• group
• sample
• grouping
• set
• bracket
• suite
• division
• grade
• bunch
• lot
• rank(s)

breed

2 of 2

verb

ˈbrēd 

1

as in to reproduce

to bring forth offspring

rabbits will breed very frequently unless they're kept separated

Synonyms & Similar Words

• reproduce
• propagate
• multiply
• produce
• procreate
• generate
• parent
• mother
• spawn
• have
• sire
• hatch
• beget
• engender
• gender
• get
• bear

2

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• raise
• foster
• nurture
• teach
• promote
• feed
• educate
• cultivate
• nurse
• mother
• bring up
• watch
• nourish
• cradle
• minister (to)
• rear
• father
• train
• attend
• mentor
• school
• supply
• care (for)
• provide (for)
• discipline
• lead
• show
• instruct
• forward
• mind
• prepare
• further
• indoctrinate
• guide
• shepherd
• enlighten
• advance
• edify
• direct
• tutor

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• abuse
• mistreat
• ignore
• maltreat
• neglect
• harm
• ill-treat
• hurt
• mishandle
• injure
• ill-use

3

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cause
• create
• bring
• generate
• do
• produce
• spawn
• prompt
• work
• yield
• induce
• effect
• translate (into)
• make
• bring about
• invoke
• draw on
• beget
• result (in)
• effectuate
• give rise to
• found
• engender
• promote
• catalyze
• encourage
• bring forth
• contribute (to)
• occasion
• bring on
• introduce
• foster
• pioneer
• develop
• establish
• determine
• cultivate
• institute
• decide
• begin
• initiate
• conduce (to)
• launch
• start
• inaugurate
• set up
• nurture
• forward
• further
• innovate
• set
• render
• turn out
• enact
• father
• advance
• nourish

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• restrict
• limit
• impede
• control
• stifle
• subdue
• suppress
• quash
• crush
• put down
• smother
• check
• repress
• restrain
• retard
• quell
• kill
• curb
• dampen
• inhibit
• arrest
• can
• rein (in)
• squash
• destroy
• crack down (on)
• squelch
• clamp down (on)
• still
• abolish
• liquidate
• extinguish
• demolish
• quench
• snuff (out)

4

as in to sleep

to engage in sexual intercourse

cats breeding outside our window made a horrible racket last night

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sleep
• mate
• copulate
• have sex
• do it
• fornicate
• fool around

5

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• plant
• implant
• root
• inseminate
• sow
• inculcate
• embed
• instill
• lodge
• drive
• enroot
• infix
• invest
• pound
• entrench
• inoculate
• hammer
• imbue
• infuse
• steep
• suffuse
• fix
• ingrain

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of breed

Noun

The Baker family grows 200 coleus varieties, including 40 original breeds sold at the greenhouse. —Teresa Woodard, Midwest Living, 10 Apr. 2026

Among dog breeds with more than 100 intakes recorded in 2025, some had notably high success rates. —Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 9 Apr. 2026

Verb

One answer is that the electoral failure of his traditional Republican positions has bred a suspicion of democracy. —Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026

Fix Drainage Problems Many gnats breed in and feed on moist, decaying organic matter. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2026