FERTILIZE Synonyms: 52 Similar and Opposite Words

fertilize

verb

Definition of fertilize

as in to enrich

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of fertilize Instead, material that used to fertilize farms accumulated in urban streets, rivers and sewers, while rural soils grew steadily poorer with each harvest. — Edward D. Melillo, Fortune, 27 July 2026 Find out why, when, and how to fertilize petunias in containers, as well as the best fertilizers to use and how to adjust for petunias grown in the ground in beds. — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 July 2026 When to Fertilize a Peace Lily The best time to fertilize a peace lily is during spring and summer when the days are longer, and the plant is receiving more sunlight. — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 9 July 2026 For example, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a specialized form of IVF in which time-lapse images of sperm moving in a petri dish help clinicians select those believed to be most likely to fertilize an egg. — Edna Bonhomme, Scientific American, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for fertilize

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fertilize

Verb

Summary SpaceX has completed its $60 billion all-stock acquisition of AI coding firm Cursor, a move that significantly enriches its four MIT alumni founders.

— John Werner, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Stars are born from the molecular gas clouds that lie in interstellar space, and these clouds are enriched with the elements produced by fusion reactions within previous generations of stars.

— Keith Cooper, Space.com, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of enrich

Verb

Meanwhile, Ukraine has already augmented its air defenses around Odesa and other ports, with videos showing aircraft, including an F-16 and a Yak-52, shooting down Geran-4s.

— Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
During the 2025 Operation Midnight Hammer strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, an Ohio-class boat was called upon to augment B-2 bomber strikes.

— Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of augment

Verb

In Kansas, parties have a duty to supplement or correct discovery production in a timely manner, Mikesic said.

— Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 12 Aug. 2026
How to supplement Social Security Social Security is only expected to replace a portion of your pre-retirement earnings, making other savings an important part of most post-employment financial plans.

— Brian Sloan, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of supplement

Verb

It’s fortified with vitamins and minerals and contains a probiotic formula for digestive health.

— BestReviews, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026
The 78-year-old Larson was poised to be influential inside a potential Democratic majority and has led the party on efforts to expand Social Security benefits and fortify the program into the future.

— Benjamin Siegel, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of fortify

Verb

The buffers that have minimized the disruption so far will hold for only so long and must be reinforced if the world is to endure future shocks.

— Jason Bordoff, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2026
Human-scale FloatForms will require reinforced and even mechanically interlocked latches as well as GPS or visual sensing.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of reinforce

Verb

This gas will then be purified and concentrated, ready for export to local gas networks as what is termed renewable natural gas (RNG).

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 1 Aug. 2026
Normal strategy in disaster situations is boiling water to purify it but this uses valuable fuel resources.

— Simon Heptinstall, New Atlas, 9 July 2026

Definition of purify

Verb

However, the notion of the emperor’s divine origins strengthened during the Meiji era, when the concept of State Shinto arose.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
The tropical storm is set to strengthen into a hurricane on approach to Hawaii’s Big Island this weekend.

— Ben Noll, Washington Post, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of strengthen

Verb

Those exhibiting suspicious symptoms had samples taken and sent to a laboratory for analysis, the ministry said on Saturday, adding that the vessel was also decontaminated.

— ABC News, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026
Even considering the persistence and peril of anthrax, Stewart reckons that the British government did properly decontaminate the island.

— RJ Mackenzie, Popular Science, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of decontaminate

Browse Nearby Words

fertility

fertilize

fertilized

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Fertilize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fertilize. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of fertilize

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on fertilize

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

divulge

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes