as in lineage
the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended
a family of good breeding that is well respected in the community
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in reproducing
to bring forth offspring
rabbits will breed very frequently unless they're kept separated
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in raising
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 creating
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 sleeping
to engage in sexual intercourse
cats breeding outside our window made a horrible racket last night
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in planting
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 breeding
Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 5 Mar. 2026
Conservation efforts, including captive breeding programs, have helped the population recover to about 500 condors today.
—Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 5 Mar. 2026
Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Feb. 2026
The breeding male from one of those packs died in January after state wildlife officials captured it to replace the batteries in its collar.
—Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for breeding
Noun
At the dinner table, surrounded by financiers, politicians, and tech founders, the conversation drifts casually toward breeding, inheritance, and the preservation of elite bloodlines, revealing the worldview quietly underwriting the entire power structure.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 5 Mar. 2026
Conservation efforts, including captive breeding programs, have helped the population recover to about 500 condors today.
—Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
Founded in the 16th century, the Royal Stables are best known for breeding the royal breed of the Andalucían horse, the best of which are showcased in regular breathtaking shows.
—Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Feb. 2026
The breeding male from one of those packs died in January after state wildlife officials captured it to replace the batteries in its collar.
—Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for breeding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breeding
Noun
-
Comparative studies show that an appendix-like structure evolved independently in at least three distinct lineages of mammals – marsupials, primates and glires, a group that includes rodents and rabbits.—
Lilia Goncharova,
The Conversation,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Perhaps Little Foot’s lineage was more closely related to East African hominins, while South African hominins evolved distinct facial features later on, the authors wrote in the study.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Vexingly, the war with Iran is reproducing in macrocosm what those wars taught in microcosm.—
Bernard Avishai,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Post-Soviet, Anthropocene, and post-independence frameworks can be overdetermined by these same spatial and political logics, translating them into periodizations that claim to mark historical breaks while reproducing their underlying assumptions.—
Anel Rakhimzhanova,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt and Sinomine Resource Group are also constructing lithium sulfate plants tied to their Zimbabwean mines, raising questions about whether the country is building an independent refining sector or simply deepening its role inside China’s battery ecosystem.—
Ray Mwayera,
semafor.com,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Unlike chatbots that simply respond to prompts, AI agents can take proactive actions, which often require broader access to data and systems, raising privacy and security concerns.—
Evelyn Cheng,Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The shift risks creating uneven protections, as state offices lack the federal power to threaten schools with funding cuts.—
Collin Binkley,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The innovation enables an autonomous drone to record important operational and sensor data directly onto a blockchain during flight, creating a secure and tamper-resistant record of its activities.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Some common behaviors to look out for include sleep changes, like getting very little sleep, or alternatively sleeping or hibernating more than usual, says Guilbault.—
Staff Author,
Parents,
9 Mar. 2026
-
An analysis published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine indicated that sleeping for less than seven hours a night increases the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and depression.—
Veronica Cristino,
Vogue,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In the end, Pearl’s family hosts an end-of-harvest party, sharing the bounty with neighbors who start to think about planting their own gardens.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
8 Mar. 2026
-
As the match officials made their way off the pitch, Guardiola was planting a kiss on the cheek of his goalkeeper, James Trafford, and waving, almost dewy-eyed, towards the City fans in the most vertiginous parts of St James’ Park.—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Mullin has also leaned into his ancestry as a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and supported positions important to tribal citizens, such as advocating for tribal sovereignty.—
Sean Murphy,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Multi-instrumentalist and dancer Saeid Shanbehzadeh, who traces his ancestry to Zanzibar, celebrates that heritage with his band, and specializes in the Iranian bagpipe and percussion.—
Anastasia Tsioulcas,
NPR,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The same goes for propagating cactus pups and leaf or stem cuttings.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
26 Feb. 2026
-
With its light texture, perlite mixed with water makes an excellent medium for propagating stem cuttings and leaf cuttings.—
Alexandra Jones,
The Spruce,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Breeding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breeding. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
