1
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
2
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
3
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
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Recent Examples of sowing
After Fuqua does interesting work sowing seeds of folly amid the star’s glorious rise, the movie gives up and turns to total sanctification.
—
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2026
Plant out the seed potatoes a few weeks prior to sowing bean seeds.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2026
Cover the seed with a thin layer of straw after sowing to prevent erosion.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 3 Apr. 2026
In San Martin that day, a helicopter landed, unloading between 20 and 30 soldiers who entered a property and detained five people who had been sowing grass and tending to pastures, the complaint said.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
Light After sowing your seedlings, place them in a location with bright, indirect sunlight.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 11 Mar. 2026
Starting Veggie Seeds Outdoors (Direct) Directly sowing vegetable seeds in garden beds saves time, but subjects germinating seeds to weather, pests, and soil inconsistencies.
—Marianne Willburn, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Mar. 2026
Most of the casualties were Hezbollah operatives, sowing chaos among the top ranks of the group.
—Mark Mazzetti, New York Times, 29 Dec. 2024
There’s also the pregnant, endlessly vulnerable Players 222 (Jo Yu-ri) and 044 (Chae Gook-hee), who may be a mystical shaman or just an irrational, slithering kook sowing trouble and doubt.
—Tom Gliatto, People.com, 26 Dec. 2024
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2026
Plant out the seed potatoes a few weeks prior to sowing bean seeds.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2026
Cover the seed with a thin layer of straw after sowing to prevent erosion.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 3 Apr. 2026
In San Martin that day, a helicopter landed, unloading between 20 and 30 soldiers who entered a property and detained five people who had been sowing grass and tending to pastures, the complaint said.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
Light After sowing your seedlings, place them in a location with bright, indirect sunlight.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 11 Mar. 2026
Starting Veggie Seeds Outdoors (Direct) Directly sowing vegetable seeds in garden beds saves time, but subjects germinating seeds to weather, pests, and soil inconsistencies.
—Marianne Willburn, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Mar. 2026
Most of the casualties were Hezbollah operatives, sowing chaos among the top ranks of the group.
—Mark Mazzetti, New York Times, 29 Dec. 2024
There’s also the pregnant, endlessly vulnerable Players 222 (Jo Yu-ri) and 044 (Chae Gook-hee), who may be a mystical shaman or just an irrational, slithering kook sowing trouble and doubt.
—Tom Gliatto, People.com, 26 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sowing
Verb
-
Nataliia had gone to the bus station, where soldiers were spraying foam to contain the nuclear fallout, and to the hospital, where men in white coats were unloading victims on stretchers from the backs of ambulances.—
Lizzie Johnson,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Keep your refrigerator spick-and-span by washing produce drawers with hot water and soap, and spraying all surfaces down with a disinfecting (but non-toxic and food-friendly) vinegar solution.—
Elizabeth Brownfield,
Southern Living,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Don’t expect to hear the last of this for a long time, not least because police are looking into video footage that appeared to show a York player planting a left hand on a Rochdale fan amid the pandemonium.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Additionally, planting garlic bulbs around the perimeter of your garden can create a protective barrier against deer.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
During the Spanish Civil War, when reliable food sources for families and orphanages were scarce, farms in Asturias, Madrid and Valencia raised around 300 breeding female Spanish giant rabbits to help feed those in need.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
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Because if your yard is breeding mosquitoes, those fixes don’t stand a chance.—
Ryan Brennan,
Sacbee.com,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Some suggest sprinkling it on the soil around your plants to keep slugs away, but baking soda has the potential of seeping into the soil and damaging roots.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
25 Apr. 2026
-
But in 2026, simply sprinkling in a few whimsical accents isn’t quite enough.—
Cori Sears,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
One of the most awesome/terrible/terribly awesome things about The Fight For Lord Stanley is that underdogs can bite and, unlike the NBA bracket, seeding can feel like just a number.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
13 Apr. 2026
-
The Nuggets, who finish the season at San Antonio on Sunday night, prioritized rest over seeding.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Umbrellas are dotting the viewing area as a Marine band entertains guests.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
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And some nail artists use a dotting tool or a thin nail brush dipped into the thick gel to fashion their dew-like beads.—
Annie Blay-Tettey,
Allure,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sowing. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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