breeds 1 of 2

Definition of breedsnext
plural of breed

breeds

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of breed
1
as in reproduces
to bring forth offspring rabbits will breed very frequently unless they're kept separated

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

5
as in plants
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 breeds
Noun
This is often the case for puppies and energetic small breeds. Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026 Other breeds among the gifted dogs that participated in the study were a German shepherd, a Labrador retriever, a miniature Australian shepherd, a Blue Heeler and Australian Shepherd mix. Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026 And the government’s insistence that Iranians must make sacrifices for distant causes breeds resentment rather than unity. Kamran Talattof, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2026 In contrast, a breakdown in communication breeds mistrust, which could give rise to harmful mistakes, such as an escalatory spiral from overestimating the threat posed by the other side, or a reckless deployment of AI in conflicts. Boris Babic, Fortune, 3 Jan. 2026 Here's what to know about each of the new breeds – with pictures, of course. Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 31 Dec. 2025 While many terrier breeds are known for being independent-minded, her Teddy competes in obedience. Jennifer Peltz, Twin Cities, 30 Dec. 2025 The dogs range in age from 1 to 10 years and are of various breeds, including Chihuahuas, Boston terriers, Lhasa Apsos, Yorkies, and terrier mixes. Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 29 Dec. 2025 The largest groups of dog breeds entered into the competition include 149 golden retrievers, 143 dachshunds, 110 French bulldogs, 106 Chihuahuas, 105 Australian shepherds, 100 Labrador retrievers, 82 whippets, 65 Rhodesian ridgebacks, 60 Pomeranians, 58 Chinese cresteds, and 57 pugs. Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Verb
The California least tern is a white-and-black bird less than 10 inches long that breeds only in a few areas along the bays and lagoons of California and Mexico and is in danger of extinction because of coastal development. Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026 The Upside Down is not a mirror dimension, but actually a wormhole/bridge to a separate dystopian world, The Abyss, which breeds all the Demogorgons and Demodogs. Carrie Wittmer, Glamour, 29 Dec. 2025 But everything else about Kelli breeds skepticism. Brian Moylan, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2025 Dog breeds that can't handle the cold, such as chihuahuas, Yorkshire terriers and Italian greyhounds, shouldn't spend longer than 10 to 15 minutes in temperatures between 10 and 32 degrees, Wooten writes. Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 Dec. 2025 Everyone working here wears many hats, in part because scarcity breeds necessity, but also to maintain a standard of hospitality expected for this price point. Laura Dannen Redman, Robb Report, 5 Dec. 2025 Dog breeds with the most wolf DNA include the Grand Anglo-Francais Tricolore hound — which has roughly 5 percent wolf DNA — Salukis, and Afghan hounds. Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 26 Nov. 2025 The search comes about one year after 43 Rhesus macaques escaped from a South Carolina compound that breeds them for medical research because an employee didn’t fully lock an enclosure. Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2025 For example, anyone who breeds or exhibits wild animals in a commercial setting must also be licensed by the USDA. Quinn Clark, jsonline.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breeds
Noun
  • There are other types of agreements under what's called 287(g) program models.
    Jennifer Mayerle, CBS News, 13 Jan. 2026
  • The county commissioners will hold a public hearing on the plan for Comanche Circle, and separately consider putting a temporary pause on these types of big developments.
    Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • EagleMania not just reproduces the music of the famous rock band with their five-part harmony and guitar work but captures their distinct sound.
    Caroline Ritzie, Cincinnati Enquirer, 11 Jan. 2026
  • So little is known about how the fish reproduces that no one has been able to successfully breed them in captivity.
    Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 27 Dec. 2025
Verb
  • This is because of the productive restlessness that Safdie fosters in his colleagues, many of whom have been at his side for decades, and, of course, the spirit of his wildly original new character.
    David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 7 Jan. 2026
  • That fosters consensus building, persuasion and accountability.
    Rob Moore, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • How causes a plant to exit dormancy?
    Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 9 Jan. 2026
  • But nothing could ease the stress off him more quickly than a running game that invokes fear — any fear, just something that causes a team to actually react to play-action.
    Sam McDowell January 9, Kansas City Star, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Mauricio Umansky, of The Agency, a global luxury real estate agency, has a finger on the pulse of the city that never sleeps.
    Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Jan. 2026
  • This lovable droopy-eared dog sleeps on top of his doghouse.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • That encounter plants a seed that bears bitter fruit in the 1988 chapter once teenage Noor (now played by Muhammad Abed Elrahman) finds himself in the middle of a protest that spirals out of control.
    Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
  • There’s a distinct aroma that follows Tacos Los Cholos whenever the growing restaurant chain plants roots, the scent of mesquite smoke and prime meats hitting the grill.
    Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 6 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • These other kinds percolate through the bedrock to shallower depths and hence are cooler.
    Keith Cooper, Space.com, 9 Jan. 2026
  • There were the kinds of first-day hiccups employees of all kinds can relate to.
    Drew Kann, AJC.com, 6 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Sound is a mechanical wave that propagates through a medium, such as a gas, liquid or solid, by causing particles to oscillate and transmit energy through the material.
    Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 12 Dec. 2025
  • The former is a young plant company, which propagates seedlings and ships them off to be planted worldwide.
    Max Scheinblum, Denver Post, 16 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Breeds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breeds. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.

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