as in to cultivate
to change (a wild animal or plant) over time to make it more suited to life with or use by humans
Humans domesticated wolves to produce man's best friend.
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Recent Examples of domesticate
If successful, the case could set precedent for how far state agencies can go in enforcing wildlife regulations, particularly when animals are domesticated and kept in private homes.
—
Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025
What other Middle Tennessee city chicken laws say In Metro Nashville and Davidson County, domesticated farm animals are restricted, unless a lot size of five acres is met.
—Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 28 July 2025
Mesopotamian cuneiform tablets suggest pigeons were domesticated as early as 5,000 years ago, and hieroglyphic evidence suggests the Ancient Egyptians used them as messengers.
—Calista Oetama, Sacbee.com, 16 July 2025
While domesticated grapes are hermaphorditic, meaning their flowers contain both male and female organs, wild grapes are dioecious, meaning there are separate male and female plants, as is the case with this species.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for domesticate
Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025
What other Middle Tennessee city chicken laws say In Metro Nashville and Davidson County, domesticated farm animals are restricted, unless a lot size of five acres is met.
—Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 28 July 2025
Mesopotamian cuneiform tablets suggest pigeons were domesticated as early as 5,000 years ago, and hieroglyphic evidence suggests the Ancient Egyptians used them as messengers.
—Calista Oetama, Sacbee.com, 16 July 2025
While domesticated grapes are hermaphorditic, meaning their flowers contain both male and female organs, wild grapes are dioecious, meaning there are separate male and female plants, as is the case with this species.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for domesticate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for domesticate
Verb
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In fact, cultivating students’ self-belief is often the biggest hurdle school leaders face, Branham said.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
4 Sep. 2025
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Through the inevitable challenges of constant change, the bonds an entrepreneur cultivates in the present can prompt their greatest accomplishments in the near future.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The people who've had their eyes trained on central banks all over the world, for years, notebooks out, scribbling down their observations.—
Erika Beras,
NPR,
6 Sep. 2025
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Why Colombians are answering Zelenskyy’s plea Decades of warfare have left Colombia with one of the largest and most well-trained armies in the world.—
Rebecca Johns,
Miami Herald,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But Kennedy has already propagated an insidious revolution within the agencies under his control, using a playbook familiar to illiberal leaders—culling expertise, silencing critics, and weaponizing administrative procedure to grant a veneer of legitimacy to his actions.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
6 Sep. 2025
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Continue propagating mature clumps by division in spring.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Russian media reports suggested that Putin stopped using the residence from 2024 amid intensifying Ukrainian drone attacks.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
9 Sep. 2025
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Wash dirty hands before using a touchscreen or laptop keyboard.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Firefighters on the ground continued to reinforce lines previously built over the past week, utilizing strategic firing to fill in unburned areas from Fence Meadow Lookout to Nutmeg Saddle.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Ohio State will have to find a way to spy Navarro and also mix some complicated coverages in the secondary, but also utilize the defensive line to keep Navarro in the pocket when passing plays break down.—
Cameron Teague Robinson,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In the last four drives of the game, the Bengals ran 12 plays, went three-and-out every time and produced minus-23 yards.—
Paul Dehner Jr,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
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To qualify for a portion of the county arts funding, organizations must be active 501(c)3 entities, located and operating in Milwaukee County, organized for the primary purpose of producing or presenting the arts, and open to the general public, according to the county's application terms.—
Claudia Levens,
jsonline.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Labradors are often more energetic and bred for hunting, retrieving, and service work, whereas goldens are prized for their patience, friendliness, and trainability.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Sep. 2025
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And from that position, she was empowered to breed social revolt.—
Time,
Time,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Velasco adapted and transformed the classroom at Dishchii’bikoh Community School to match the curriculum.—
Erick Trevino,
AZCentral.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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These plants are adapted to the specific soils, climate and other local conditions of their region and support the local food web, providing habitat for native wildlife, pollinators and insects.—
Chris McKeown,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Domesticate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/domesticate. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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