as in cultivating
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 domesticating
Tens of thousands of years ago, humans began domesticating wild wolves to make hunting, gathering food and protection easier, according to Science News.
—
K'mari Greene, AJC.com, 4 June 2026
Truly domesticating bees required a hive with movable frames, one that would allow beekeepers to examine their bees and harvest honey without destroying the colony.
—Literary Hub, 27 May 2026
That means that winemakers across what is now France must have switched from domesticating wild grapes to propagating them directly—that is, cloning grapevines by taking cuttings of the plants to start new groves.
—Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 24 Mar. 2026
And perhaps no one brand better exemplifies the nation's work than Track Trailer and its Tvan, a little 'drop trailer that's been domesticating the Outback for over a quarter-century.
—New Atlas, 17 Mar. 2026
Lonpi Tipi added that domesticating larvae production ultimately would lead to solving problems related to access to protein- and nutrition-rich food.
—Emmet Livingstone, NPR, 20 Sep. 2025
But where chimps might merely poke over the ashes, our lineage at some point took the next step in promoting and even domesticating the flames — perhaps picking a smoldering stick from the edges of one grassland, and lighting the grassland in the next valley over.
—Peter Brannen, Big Think, 28 Aug. 2025
K'mari Greene, AJC.com, 4 June 2026
Truly domesticating bees required a hive with movable frames, one that would allow beekeepers to examine their bees and harvest honey without destroying the colony.
—Literary Hub, 27 May 2026
That means that winemakers across what is now France must have switched from domesticating wild grapes to propagating them directly—that is, cloning grapevines by taking cuttings of the plants to start new groves.
—Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 24 Mar. 2026
And perhaps no one brand better exemplifies the nation's work than Track Trailer and its Tvan, a little 'drop trailer that's been domesticating the Outback for over a quarter-century.
—New Atlas, 17 Mar. 2026
Lonpi Tipi added that domesticating larvae production ultimately would lead to solving problems related to access to protein- and nutrition-rich food.
—Emmet Livingstone, NPR, 20 Sep. 2025
But where chimps might merely poke over the ashes, our lineage at some point took the next step in promoting and even domesticating the flames — perhaps picking a smoldering stick from the edges of one grassland, and lighting the grassland in the next valley over.
—Peter Brannen, Big Think, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for domesticating
Verb
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The approach, Black Thought admits, is indeed intentional and aimed at cultivating an organic expansion of the festival's appeal.—
Ime Ekpo,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
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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
Verb
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According to audio of an internal Meta meeting leaked to More Perfect Union, Zuckerberg told employees that the company is training its AI models by tracking how its own workers use their computers.—
Alex Lee,
Mercury News,
19 June 2026
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Pulisic has been training individually all week long.—
Becky Sullivan,
NPR,
19 June 2026
Verb
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The islands, which sit about 2,485 miles (4,000 kilometers) southwest of mainland Australia have long been an isolated sanctuary for breeding birds and marine mammals.—
Kathleen Magramo,
CNN Money,
19 June 2026
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There were also breeding facilities in the state.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
11 June 2026
Verb
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The young tender stems are also perfect for propagating.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
8 June 2026
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Aloe vera is a plant best reserved for propagating through offshoots.—
Melissa Epifano,
The Spruce,
8 June 2026
Verb
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Officers conducted a search on foot and using a drone, but were unable to locate the animal.—
Evelyn Ronan,
Sacbee.com,
20 June 2026
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Rainy weather driving tips Switch on headlights - Even during daylight hours, using headlights can enhance visibility and signal your presence to other drivers.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 June 2026
Verb
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With its rich agricultural resources, the country is aiming to become a leader in producing next-generation biofuels.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
19 June 2026
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Before Wednesday’s storms, several large outbreaks occurred across the state the previous week on the evening of June 11, producing 20 tornadoes in the northern Illinois and northwest Indiana forecast area alone.—
Adriana Pérez,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2026
Verb
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The case stands as a powerful example of how advancements in forensic science, particularly utilizing DNA and forensic genetic genealogy, continue to transform cold case investigations, delivering answers even decades after crimes occur.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
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Zou noted that one major challenge is the lack of a mature software and algorithm ecosystem capable of fully utilizing photonic hardware.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
15 June 2026
Verb
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The miscommunications have once again put the majority leader in a difficult position, raising questions about why the president seems intent on making his life more difficult.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
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Gordon said in kicking off his comments and raising a hand to reveal a rubber finger pad.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Domesticating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/domesticating. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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