Definition of sownext
1
as in to spray
to cover by or as if by scattering something over or on sow the fields with maize in early spring, and the crop should be ready by late summer

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2
as in to plant
to put or set into the ground to grow first sow the seeds in potting soil

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in to breed
to set permanently in the consciousness or mind-set a malicious neighbor who sowed within him nagging suspicions about his wife

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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 sow Taiwan’s opposition leader kicked off a landmark visit to mainland China, a trip critics have said is part of Beijing’s efforts to sow division on the island. Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 7 Apr. 2026 Carrots need to be sown directly into the soil—doing so in April gives them ample time to establish themselves before temperatures really start to heat up in the summer. Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 5 Apr. 2026 The president has taken several steps to sow doubt about the election returns. ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026 By doing a bit of planning, and sowing or planting second crops, your cutting garden and home can be filled with flowers until the first hard frost. Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sow
Verb
  • These models will spray water downward to clean the nozzle itself with each use.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2026
  • Hassan had just woken from a nap and went to get water when a shell smacked into the dirt of the school’s playground, spraying shrapnel into his body.
    Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Fredricks hopes that one of those students at the old Wilson Elementary School comes forward and reaches out to her about their experience helping plant the seeds for this historic tree.
    Heath Kalb, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2026
  • The driver sits low, like a sports coupe, making the ride smooth, centered and planted.
    Morgan Korn, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • His contention is that the people who inhabit the paintings are breathing a specific spiritual atmosphere, bred by the company that Vermeer kept.
    Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
  • Affordability issues explain part of the apprehension; increasingly, young people have been priced out of the housing market, breeding a resentment that erodes faith in institutions — and in capitalism itself.
    Ben Smith, semafor.com, 13 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The younger two brothers float paper boats in the kitchen sink and Jeremy plays along, sprinkling flour on their heads—but making the kitchen a total mess.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
  • There are many more overt examples of Silicon Valley misbehavior sprinkled through the premiere episode of The Audacity, but the essence of Jonathan Glatzer’s tech-world satire may be in this digital billboard that appears on the side of the road.
    Scott Tobias, Vulture, 12 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The Nuggets, who finish the season at San Antonio on Sunday night, prioritized rest over seeding.
    ABC News, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026
  • The teams that are eliminated in the play-in tournament before getting to the playoffs are seeded into the NBA Draft lottery based on regular-season record.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • O’Leary’s just been peppering the house manager with questions about her business and admiring the replica of the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man that dominates the entryway.
    Brent Lang, Variety, 9 Apr. 2026
  • The women had all read my book and eagerly peppered me with questions.
    Roxane Gay, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The Nevada County Planning Commission recently recommended that a development project in Cedar Ridge be put in front of the board of supervisors for a vote.
    Kayla Moeller, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2026
  • The restrictions, which were put in place immediately, limit residents to using water outside their homes, such as for their lawns, to twice per week.
    Tynin Fries, Denver Post, 9 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sow. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.

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