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
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
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 open question is whether anyone is willing to stop extracting long enough to start cultivating.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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Aiding retailers in becoming more consumer-centric and cultivating communities is becoming increasingly important, Maus commented.—
Alex Wynne,
Footwear News,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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By defining core beliefs, researching client needs, and training AI with personal style, creatives can scale content, prototype ideas faster, and free up time for enriching experiences, ultimately spreading their humanity further.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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Silver is well known for his work on reinforcement learning, a way of training AI models from experience rather than historical data.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The nonprofit is urging both governments to ensure the mammals will not be used for breeding if they are transported to the United States.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
27 Jan. 2026
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Inside a lab in Redland, behind double doors that require a lab coat to enter, a team of scientists is breeding a tiny terror.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Robinhood is known for propagating meme-stock mania, making its founders billionaires, and changing how Americans invest.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
29 Dec. 2025
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Torres Maczassek and her brother, Miguel, are considered leaders in climate-change response, including uncovering and re-propagating nearly extinct grape varieties that may fare better in extreme heat and drought.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
27 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Though Amelia is a particularly viral example, using AI to generate content was already a popular pastime for the online right in Britain.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
31 Jan. 2026
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Those who bought the checks would then attempt to fraudulently cash them, according to federal prosecutors, using a variety of methods.—
Joseph Buczek,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Oh-My-God particle first interacted with an atomic nucleus in the upper atmosphere, producing a series of daughter particles that each maintain a fraction of the original particle’s momentum, which then collide with greater and greater numbers of particles, and so on.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
30 Jan. 2026
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The cattle there are raised in open-air conditions and fed for precisely 600 to 650 days, producing uniquely tender beef with subtle umami.—
Alaina Chou,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Other practices, such as wearing lightweight clothing, utilizing shade breaks, and limiting strenuous activity during peak afternoon heat, further reduce risk.—
Ethan Stone,
Ascend Agency,
25 Jan. 2026
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The Department of Public Works will be utilizing over 800 pieces of equipment to clear the roadways while also working with private contractors.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Along with her late husband, the pair founded VIB, an anti-violence nonprofit dedicated to raising social awareness and aiding community causes in Boston, federal prosecutors said.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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During the 2020 campaign, Joe Biden proposed raising the corporate tax rate.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Domesticating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/domesticating. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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