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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Cold triggers vasoconstriction followed by vasodilation, training the vascular system and activating brown adipose tissue.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
28 May 2026
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Higher education must devote considerable resources to training students to work together to tackle common challenges.—
Rajiv Vinnakota,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Verb
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Females are not released but may be used for breeding in the laboratory.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
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To test the effect of this dysfunctional receptor on the plant’s defenses, the team began breeding the plants for their experiment.—
Jacek Krywko,
ArsTechnica,
3 June 2026
Verb
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Because the cracks were propagating underneath.—
Dan Mangan,Emma Graham,Hugh Leask,Kevin Breuninger,
CNBC,
3 June 2026
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The team used advanced 3D magnetohydrodynamic simulations to recreate the process, revealing that shockwaves propagating through giant molecular clouds can naturally generate the striking wheel-like architecture seen in some of the galaxy's most active stellar nurseries, according to the study.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
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The reforms would also require some facilities to assess the feasibility of using safer technologies or processes in their work, among other changes.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
30 May 2026
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Zeferjahn had struggled earlier in the season, when the Angels were using him for multiple innings.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
Verb
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When a crop such as lettuce is done producing, it is cut at ground level so the roots stay in the ground, helping feed soil microbes.—
Special to The Denver Post,
Denver Post,
29 May 2026
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Djokovic held a 2-0 set lead, but the 19-year-old Brazilian bounced back to win the next three sets – producing the stunning victory against the Serbian superstar.—
Thomas Schlachter,
CNN Money,
29 May 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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With the rebuilding ongoing Hart said Saturday’s gala is not just about raising funds, but also awareness.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
4 June 2026
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Walking is exercise proven to help ward off anxiety, depression, dementia and Alzheimer’s, while improving self-esteem and raising dopamine levels.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Domesticating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/domesticating. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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