as in cultivated
to work by plowing, sowing, and raising crops on
farmers tilling the soil from sunup to sunset
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Recent Examples of tilled
Creative soil has to be tilled every once in a while.
—
Peter Bogdanovich, IndieWire, 13 May 2026
Red clover can make a drought- and shade-tolerant lawn alternative, but it is more often grown as an annual winter cover crop and then tilled into the soil as green manure.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 13 May 2026
Unlike parks or residential lawns, cemeteries are rarely dug up, tilled or redeveloped — which means the soil remains stable year after year.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2026
Solid manure from feedlots, poultry houses or composting dairy barns is spread and tilled under.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 15 Mar. 2026
These tools – still carrying the soil from which they were tilled – represent the work of the immigrant farmworkers of all backgrounds who helped build California’s agriculture industry, which continues to feed the nation today.
—Sam Vong, The Conversation, 18 Dec. 2025
The wheat fields themselves told their own story—deep brown and newly tilled in autumn, then green in spring, golden in summer.
—Hannah Howard, Travel + Leisure, 22 Nov. 2025
The rest was tilled into the ground.
—Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2025
Château de Selle is located inland from the Mediterranean Sea, on limestone hillsides, planted in arid limestone soil––the earth is actually mechanically tilled to crush the rocks; yields from the 345-acre organic (since 2022) estate are low.
—John Mariani, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Peter Bogdanovich, IndieWire, 13 May 2026
Red clover can make a drought- and shade-tolerant lawn alternative, but it is more often grown as an annual winter cover crop and then tilled into the soil as green manure.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 13 May 2026
Unlike parks or residential lawns, cemeteries are rarely dug up, tilled or redeveloped — which means the soil remains stable year after year.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2026
Solid manure from feedlots, poultry houses or composting dairy barns is spread and tilled under.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 15 Mar. 2026
These tools – still carrying the soil from which they were tilled – represent the work of the immigrant farmworkers of all backgrounds who helped build California’s agriculture industry, which continues to feed the nation today.
—Sam Vong, The Conversation, 18 Dec. 2025
The wheat fields themselves told their own story—deep brown and newly tilled in autumn, then green in spring, golden in summer.
—Hannah Howard, Travel + Leisure, 22 Nov. 2025
The rest was tilled into the ground.
—Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2025
Château de Selle is located inland from the Mediterranean Sea, on limestone hillsides, planted in arid limestone soil––the earth is actually mechanically tilled to crush the rocks; yields from the 345-acre organic (since 2022) estate are low.
—John Mariani, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tilled
Verb
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And with it, brothers Peter, David and Jack Baker have for 12 years cultivated a craft distillery in Litchfield, yes with a still that, to an outsider, could resemble art or a science project, and a tasting room loaded with tasty liquor, maple syrup and plenty of swag.—
Emily M. Olson,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
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The basketball team under coach Steve Fisher and now Brian Dutcher has cultivated a more loyal and robust fan base, having reached 12 of the last 16 NCAA Tournaments, four Sweet 16s and one Final Four.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Meanwhile, a grove of redwood trees (planted by the property’s former owner, Martha Stewart) gives the grounds a sense of grandeur.—
Elise Taylor,
Vogue,
14 May 2026
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Sadly, Maui Gold is now the last pineapple farm standing on the island, down to 750 acres (300 of them planted), with just 20 people working the farm.—
Laura Dannen Redman,
Robb Report,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Earthrise rejected Becker’s arguments that the application does not properly identify wetlands that have been farmed.—
Alicia Fabbre,
Chicago Tribune,
13 May 2026
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The titular town is a serene speck of a place in the west of Japan, near a mountain also called Nagi, a beautiful but raggedy landscape that patchworks swathes of virgin forest, farmed fields and twinkling solar panels.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
Verb
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The crisp edible part of the plant is a cluster of delicious flower buds that can be harvested multiple times and enjoyed raw or in cooked dishes like soups or as a side.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
11 May 2026
-
Plants can be harvested in the fall.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tilled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tilled. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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