hotbed

noun

hot·​bed ˈhät-ˌbed How to pronounce hotbed (audio)
Synonyms of hotbednext
1
: a bed of soil enclosed in glass, heated especially by fermenting manure, and used for forcing or for raising seedlings
2
: an environment that favors rapid growth or development
a hotbed of activity

Synonyms of hotbed

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Examples of hotbed in a Sentence

a hotbed of political unrest prerevolutionary Boston was viewed as a hotbed of treason by the British
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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.
Since the turn of the millennium, Latin America has become a hotbed of electronic dance music, warping countless homegrown rhythms at block parties, bedrooms, and mega clubs across the region. — Richard Villegas, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2026 The area saw its economic fortunes fall and in recent years has rebounded with a hotbed of new investment. — Mike Hellgren, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026 TikTok is a hotbed of beauty recommendations, but building a skin-care routine around products promoted on social media comes with risk, a small new observational study suggests. — Korin Miller, Allure, 7 Oct. 2026 Mere days after the fire, Jalapeños in midtown (yes, really) stepped in to fill the void, with the long-running taqueria suddenly finding itself a hotbed for upstart local artists on its arboreal 21st Street patio. — Aaron Davis, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hotbed

Word History

First Known Use

1626, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hotbed was in 1626

Rhymes for hotbed

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Browse Nearby Words

hot and heavy
hotbed
hot-blast stove
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Cite this Entry

“Hotbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hotbed. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

hotbed

noun
hot·​bed ˈhät-ˌbed How to pronounce hotbed (audio)
1
: a heated bed of soil enclosed in glass and used for growing seedlings
2
: an environment that favors rapid growth or development
a hotbed of innovation

More from Merriam-Webster on hotbed

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hotbed

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