BREED Synonyms: 210 Similar and Opposite Words

breed 1 of 2

noun

Definition of breed

as in type

a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common some people say that honest politicians are a rare breed

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Relevance

breed

2 of 2

verb

ˈbrēd

as in to reproduce

to bring forth offspring rabbits will breed very frequently unless they're kept separated

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as in to raise

to bring to maturity through care and education he was bred to a life in the military by his father, himself an army captain

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to cause

to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) this habit of favoring one employee over the others will breed resentment

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to sleep

to engage in sexual intercourse cats breeding outside our window made a horrible racket last night

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as in to plant

to set permanently in the consciousness or mind-set parents who breed in their children a deep respect for people of all classes

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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 breed

Noun

Because this onerous and not very lucrative work is unappealing to younger generations, the puesteros are an aging breed, with few lined up to replace them. — Ana Karina Zatarain, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2026 There is no pet fee, no deposit, no weight limit and no breed restriction. — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Aug. 2026

Verb

Most biologists believe that wallows are not essential for breeding rituals, pointing to elk areas where there are few, if any, wallows. — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 12 Aug. 2026 The competition within his new-look room has bred a relentless mentality that could result in a big year for the Jackets’ front. — Fisher Isbell, AJC.com, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for breed

Recent Examples of Synonyms for breed

Noun

Invasive species of all kinds are already costing the global economy more than $423 billion annually.

— Jack Bantock, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
In his first earnings call as CEO earlier this month, D’Amaro did speak on the possibility of introducing a free streaming offering of some kind.

— Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of kind

Verb

Females prefer these waters to reproduce, and during the summer male rays have a higher metabolism that drives them to seek out food in the invertebrates along the shore, Lowe said.

— ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
Ask whether the methodology is published in enough detail to reproduce, and who arbitrates a disputed grade.

— Janakiram MSV, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of reproduce

Verb

Residents in some of those markets continue to raise concerns about drone noise and privacy and how those issues could hurt property values.

— Annie Palmer, CNBC, 19 Aug. 2026
Notably, Schwartzel was one of the few candidates in the race who was actually born and raised in the state.

— Adisa Hargett-Robinson, The Washington Examiner, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of raise

Verb

The jury determined that Meta and YouTube were negligent in the design or operation of their respective platforms, and that the negligence was a substantial factor in causing harm to the plaintiff.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
He was booked into Ventura County Jail for driving under the influence of alcohol causing bodily injury, according to CHP's release.

— Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of cause

Verb

The message was about taking care of one another — a seed Dyer has worked hard to plant and grow since leaving his electrical engineering career more than a decade ago to become a Presbyterian minister.

— Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
Wilson’s draft night peers await The Bulls rookie planted his flag some time ago.

— Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of plant

Noun

Both bands share a genre-bending approach, improvising to create performances that — in theory, at least — are singular.

— Jennifer Day, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
Related Stories Ahmed describes the show as a blend of genres, mixing drama and comedy while poking fun at one of the biggest franchises of all time.

— Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026