as in centers
a place or environment that favors the development of something
unwashed skin is a breeding ground for bacteria
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 grounds
Apocalypse movies are breeding grounds for unlikely posses, and this Australian zom-com from writer-director Abe Forsythe is no exception.
—
Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Feb. 2026
Shower heads are breeding grounds for mold because of the constant moisture, humidity, and minerals that are found in some water supplies.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 19 Feb. 2026
Anyone who’s ever done ballet will know that many studios are breeding grounds for body image issues.
—Refinery29 Staff, Refinery29, 12 Nov. 2025
Miller argues that universities are breeding grounds for ideological intolerance, laying blame on Marxist ideas.
—Mitch Picasso , Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2025
Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Feb. 2026
Shower heads are breeding grounds for mold because of the constant moisture, humidity, and minerals that are found in some water supplies.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 19 Feb. 2026
Anyone who’s ever done ballet will know that many studios are breeding grounds for body image issues.
—Refinery29 Staff, Refinery29, 12 Nov. 2025
Miller argues that universities are breeding grounds for ideological intolerance, laying blame on Marxist ideas.
—Mitch Picasso , Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breeding grounds
Noun
-
This phase would most likely have included the use of cruise missiles, stealth bombers, and drones to hit air defense installations and command centers.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Mar. 2026
-
One of the Chinese ministries involved in the joint centers helped organize the World Conference of Classics.—
Chang Che,
New Yorker,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
These nests can be found along roof eaves, window corners, in mailboxes, and on sturdy plant leaves.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Perfect for a dessert tray or to top a cake, these little nests will delight everyone at your gathering.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Plants grown in nurseries are crops maturing at different times throughout the year.—
Chris McKeown,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Mar. 2026
-
These arms act as cosmic nurseries where new stars are constantly forming.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The early-season tournaments or invitationals, such as Clearwater two weeks ago or the gem of this past week, the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, are hotbeds for shocking upsets and surprising — and sometimes uncharacteristic — early-season thrillers.—
Molly Keshin,
New York Times,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Those places aren’t exactly hotbeds for future big leaguers.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Breeding grounds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breeding%20grounds. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
