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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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 As early as the1970s, according to journalists and researchers, Exxon knew about the dangers of fossil fuel combustion but, along with others in the fossil fuel industry, worked to sow doubt about the scientific consensus. Alex Kuffner, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026 Attempts to sow discord and prevent extended defunding from being included must be put aside. Emily Brooks, The Hill, 14 Apr. 2026 Some are too afraid to go to the hospital at all for angst sown during Operation Midway Blitz, the federal mass deportation campaign that took place in Chicago last year. Laura Turbay, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026 Like zinnias, sunflowers grow best when direct-sown, but can also be started indoors for gardeners still waiting for their last frost date to pass. Cori Sears, The Spruce, 10 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
  • The current fertilizer prices could also cause some farmers to shift from planting corn to planting more soybeans, which Jore said requires less nitrogen fertilizer.
    Kelly McCarthy, ABC News, 18 Apr. 2026
  • So, if people went out and planted natives, they're probably adapted to this.
    Alan Gionet, CBS News, 18 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
  • In the living room, an antique trumeau mirror inherited from Kerry’s great-grandmother joins vintage Scandinavian seating and tables, drawings by contemporary sculptor James Capper, an Akari lantern by Isamu Noguchi, and, to pepper the pot, a Rose Uniacke ottoman dressed in chartreuse linen.
    Mayer Rus, Architectural Digest, 17 Apr. 2026
  • Administration figures peppered public remarks, publications and social media posts with the phrase.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Teens are being prepared for the real world with fashion classes, contributing to annual fashion shows and projects that are put in portfolios.
    Chris Wragge, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
  • You get put in front of so many different audiences, and that creates a fan base, and your fan base creates a demand to see you.
    Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 16 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sow. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.

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