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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Lured by the promise of well-paying jobs, hundreds of thousands of people like them have been coerced into engaging in scams such as posing as women online, cultivating intimate relationships with foreigners to defraud them of their savings.—
Kayla Hayempour,
NBC news,
8 June 2026
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Historians believe ancient civilizations in Mesopotamia were cultivating dates as early as 6,000 to 8,000 years ago.—
Teresa Mull,
FOXNews.com,
8 June 2026
Verb
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Verily is contributing to the information the operations center is tracking to stay on top of infectious disease trends, by looking for about 30 infectious diseases in wastewater, including in cities where World Cup teams are training.—
Alice Park,
Time,
12 June 2026
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There are numerous other startups exploring AI’s applications in the physical world, from training world models to drive policies for robotics, to overhauling manufacturing with more robust and capable automation.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
12 June 2026
Verb
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There were also breeding facilities in the state.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
11 June 2026
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Most snakes start breeding in spring after winter dormancy, making summer the prime time to encounter one of several venomous snake species found from western Missouri to Wichita.—
Sophie Lindberg,
Kansas City Star,
10 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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Tabbed nothing less than the golden generation, they were meant to grow a sport that long had roots but never could quite blossom, using the soil of their own country to do it.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
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Switch on headlights - Even during daylight hours, using headlights can enhance visibility and signal your presence to other drivers.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
13 June 2026
Verb
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Moss is also executive producing under her Love & Squalor Pictures banner in addition to starring.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
12 June 2026
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Pot and column still distillates mature under Barbados' tropical heat, where aging occurs much faster than in cooler climates, producing remarkable depth.—
Hudson Lindenberger,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Verb
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Structural landscaping forms the literal and financial foundation of an outdoor investment, utilizing elements that define the shape, flow, and long-term function of the land.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
8 June 2026
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Using certain donations Jung and Walsh are both utilizing the county's Citizens' Election Fund.—
Dennis Valera,
CBS News,
8 June 2026
Verb
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So, climbing one rung higher and losing to a different team will lead to raising the Cup?—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
11 June 2026
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Elon Musk's mega-conglomerate SpaceX made history on Thursday, raising $75 billion in the biggest initial public offering on record.—
John Ruwitch,
NPR,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Domesticating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/domesticating. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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