1
as in developing
to come to have gradually
cultivated a taste for opera in order to fit in with his new circle of friends
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in promoting
to help the growth or development of
cultivated a passion for learning among his students over the years
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in growing
to look after or assist the growth of by labor and care
in an attempt to produce New World counterparts of the wines that he had enjoyed in Europe, Jefferson cultivated several varieties of grapes at Monticello
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in harvesting
to work by plowing, sowing, and raising crops on
we ought to cultivate the field out back
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 cultivating
Leaders recognize the value of cultivating resilience from the inside, but building that culture isn’t a one-time initiative.
—
Sentry Insurance,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Hydrangea expert Mal Condon has been cultivating and studying hydrangeas for over 50 years.
—
Sj McShane,
Martha Stewart,
29 June 2026
Burnham has spent years positioning himself as a viable alternative to Starmer, criticizing Labour's leadership at moments of weakness while carefully cultivating his own national profile.
—
Inaya Folarin Iman,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
In his regular visits to Nuuk, Horn has spent much of his time cultivating relationships with business leaders and politicians like Pele Broberg, leader of the pro-independence Naleraq party, who has made no secret of their meetings.
—
Joshua Hunt,
Vanity Fair,
17 June 2026
As days turn into years, the neighborhood is overrun by wildlife and the family adapts by cultivating food indoors.
—
Tommy McArdle,
PEOPLE,
15 June 2026
Rather than the number of visitors, Gensler said in the report, the amount of time spent downtown matters more in cultivating a thriving downtown area.
—
Lily Wright,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2026
In 2025, Mycoworks shuttered its South Carolina biomanufacturing plant, announcing a pivot to processing cheaper third-party mycelium instead of cultivating it themselves, and Natural Fiber Welding narrowly escaped bankruptcy, adding to the sense of an ending.
—
Bella Webb,
Vogue,
11 June 2026
Their approaches may change by the time presidential primaries roll around in early 2028, but meanwhile there are distinct echoes of the past; Biden also talked about cultivating key industries and merging domestic and foreign policy.
—
Missy Ryan,
The Atlantic,
10 June 2026
Sentry Insurance,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Hydrangea expert Mal Condon has been cultivating and studying hydrangeas for over 50 years.
—
Sj McShane,
Martha Stewart,
29 June 2026
Burnham has spent years positioning himself as a viable alternative to Starmer, criticizing Labour's leadership at moments of weakness while carefully cultivating his own national profile.
—
Inaya Folarin Iman,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
In his regular visits to Nuuk, Horn has spent much of his time cultivating relationships with business leaders and politicians like Pele Broberg, leader of the pro-independence Naleraq party, who has made no secret of their meetings.
—
Joshua Hunt,
Vanity Fair,
17 June 2026
As days turn into years, the neighborhood is overrun by wildlife and the family adapts by cultivating food indoors.
—
Tommy McArdle,
PEOPLE,
15 June 2026
Rather than the number of visitors, Gensler said in the report, the amount of time spent downtown matters more in cultivating a thriving downtown area.
—
Lily Wright,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2026
In 2025, Mycoworks shuttered its South Carolina biomanufacturing plant, announcing a pivot to processing cheaper third-party mycelium instead of cultivating it themselves, and Natural Fiber Welding narrowly escaped bankruptcy, adding to the sense of an ending.
—
Bella Webb,
Vogue,
11 June 2026
Their approaches may change by the time presidential primaries roll around in early 2028, but meanwhile there are distinct echoes of the past; Biden also talked about cultivating key industries and merging domestic and foreign policy.
—
Missy Ryan,
The Atlantic,
10 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cultivating
Verb
-
Jamal Musiala spent much of his childhood in England, developing his game in Chelsea’s youth academy and playing for England’s youth teams with his close friend Jude Bellingham.
-
Despite being at the center of this season’s developing drama, rookie deckhand Luke is a bit of a cypher.
Verb
-
Good Chop is dedicated to providing the finest cuts of meat while promoting sustainable practices.
-
The company threw a lavish caviar party at Cannes and in May hosted panels promoting its cinematic tool at Amazon’s AI on the Lot event in Culver City.
Verb
-
The group, already one of the largest White supremacist organizations in the country, is quickly growing its membership, at a time when hate crimes are on the rise.
-
And each time another first-time climber reaches the top, the applause rising from the rocks below suggests that, little by little, that community is growing.
Verb
-
Since radishes mature much more quickly than carrots, harvesting them creates room for the carrots to fully mature.
-
Historians estimate that people have been growing and harvesting olives for some 8,000 years.
Verb
-
The new rate does not cover the cost of acquiring or performing treatment in most cases.
-
The Heat are also considered viable after acquiring Giannis, while a Cavaliers return for a farewell tour faces skepticism regarding a minimum deal.
Verb
-
The commission has launched several initiatives leading up to the anniversary, including America's Field Trip, a nationwide essay and artwork contest for students, and volunteer service campaigns encouraging Americans to log community service hours.
-
No one was ever charged with pulling the trigger, but three other men, Paul McIntyre, 58, Peter Cavanagh, 37, and Jordan Gareth Devine, 25, were charged with murder as accomplices for encouraging or assisting the shooter.
Verb
-
Are manufacturers producing vehicles that need regular software patches?
-
Cape Verde’s Vozinha offered a compelling example, producing an outstanding display against Spain while executing his team’s game plan with composure to help secure a historic progression to the knockout stage.
Verb
-
He’s been farming and gardening since 2008 with different neighborhood associations and other places in the city.
-
The conversations wander naturally from food to family to farming.
Cite this Entry
“Cultivating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cultivating. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
