SOWING Synonyms: 57 Similar and Opposite Words

sowing

verb

present participle of sow

as in spraying

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in planting

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in breeding

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

Synonyms & Similar 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 sowing But there is a real difference between a parent asking difficult questions and the federal government sowing distrust in agencies charged with protecting children. — Chuka Onuh, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026 The disconnect between intent and impact could be sowing discord. — Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026 Psychedelics are inherently chaotic drugs, dissolving the boundary between self and surrounds by sowing discord in the brain. — Mike McRae 19, New Atlas, 19 Aug. 2026 Plan your carrot seed sowing about 10 to 11 weeks before or after the last predicted heavy frost. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 15 Aug. 2026 Trump has launched new military interventions, withdrawn from international institutions, and alienated allies, all while sowing chaos domestically. — David Remnick, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026 While seedlings may be difficult to find, nasturtiums are one of the quickest growing flowers, blooming four to six weeks after sowing. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 1 Aug. 2026 Together, Snaps and Pop have been central to sowing bad will, especially within the Thomas family. — Ronda Racha Penrice, HollywoodReporter, 31 July 2026 Meanwhile, frightful aftershocks continued to rock the area, sowing terror in a population already reaching the limits of endurance. — Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sowing

Verb

An employer must know the clearance time for the space in which spraying is taking place.

— Jake Kanter, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2026
Everyone seems to be taking a magnesium supplement these days — or spraying it on their feet.

— Jo Ann Liguori, Flow Space, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of spraying

Verb

Since New England aster will grow relatively tall, Rekola recommends planting it near the back of a perennial border in full sun.

— Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 29 Aug. 2026
Global diesel demand typically crests around October as the beginning of winter heating season and harvests in the Northern Hemisphere meets planting season in the Southern Hemisphere.

— Boston Herald Wire Services, Boston Herald, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of planting

Verb

The raptors’ breeding population peaked at around 30 breeding pairs in the mid-1950s, decreasing to zero in 1974, before rising to up to 13 pairs in the late 2000s, according to BTO.

— Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
In addition, breeding a heifer keeps her out of the food supply, tightening it further as the herd is rebuilt.

— John Hanna, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of breeding

Verb

The game was a nonregion contest, but all games now count in qualifying and seeding teams for the playoffs using the GHSA’s Post Season Rankings.

— Todd Holcomb, AJC.com, 31 Aug. 2026
As seedlings emerge, reduce the frequency of watering and practice deeper irrigation (learn more about seeding your lawn here).

— Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of seeding

Verb

Carla Guilhem, meanwhile, chose to bring a bit more nature into the space, pairing swirling patterns and bold marbles with blue abstract bird dotting the wallpaper, palm trees and jungle cats on pillows, and more.

— Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2026
Deficits in Arizona will be as common as saguaros dotting the landscape.

— Jess Bryant, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of dotting

Browse Nearby Words

sowed

sowing

sown

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Sowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sowing. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of sowing

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

dissonant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

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

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

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

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes