seedbed

noun

ˈsēd-ˌbed How to pronounce seedbed (audio)
Definition of seedbednext
1
as in center
a place or environment that favors the development of something a social and political environment that would later become a seedbed of the abolition movement

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2
as in root
the source from which something grows or develops that think tank has served as a seedbed for American conservatism since the Cold War era

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3
as in source
a point or place at which something is invented or provided the historic role of the Middle East as a seedbed for new religions

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 seedbed The fine mulch is easy to spread around young, tender seedlings and breaks down throughout the season, improving the soil structure and creating an excellent seedbed for next year’s vegetable garden. — Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 May 2026 Place screens over the seedbed if digging rodents are a problem. — Steve Bender, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026 But this extraordinary seedbed of talent may not last forever. — Gabriel Snyder, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 July 2025 In the short run, however, New York’s economic downfall was a boon to its unrivaled status as a seedbed of art and culture. — Rolling Stone, 16 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for seedbed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for seedbed
  1. center
  2. root
  3. source
  4. nursery
  5. origin
  6. cradle
  7. hotbed
  8. seed
Noun
  • Patterson, who turns 27 on Tuesday, has experience at guard and center, and the 49ers needed a backup at both spots considering Toth’s lingering concussion symptoms.
    — Matt Barrows, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • These counties have no hospitals or birth centers providing obstetric care, and no obstetric clinician.
    — Kayley Corley, Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of center
Noun
  • Paul Johnson, former director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, attributes the root cause to sluggish economic growth.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Over the next several decades, Mexican American families poured in and set down roots.
    — Marissa J. Lang, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of root
Noun
  • The San Diego Padres will call up top catching prospect Ethan Salas when rosters expand Tuesday, a team source told The Athletic on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the move.
    — Dennis Lin, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • From February through July 2026, ELG exceeded its plan by approximately $400 million of gross merchandise value, sources said.
    — David Moin, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of source
Noun
  • The blaze appears to have been triggered by an air conditioning compressor explosion inside the nursery where the newborn babies were being cared for, rescue sources told CNN.
    — Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Between 1935 and 1942, federal nurseries distributed over 85 million kudzu seedlings to Southern landowners, and the government offered farmers up to $8 per acre to plant the vine on their land.
    — The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of nursery
Noun
  • Most also agree on the origin of the beans, which are said to come from the low valleys and mountain slopes of the Andes in Peru.
    — Margy Rochlin, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The actor opened up about the origins of his steely exterior in a 2023 interview with USA TODAY.
    — Edward Segarra, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of origin
Noun
  • Soft, dynamic cushioning cradles your feet with every step while providing maximum support, providing transition assistance between launch and landing.
    — Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Here in a quiet public garden overlooked by the tourist guides, his fingers reverently trace a volcanic stone from Þingvellir, the ancient cradle of Icelandic democracy.
    — Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of cradle
Noun
  • The internet has become a hotbed for the monetization of almost anything, and as media literacy is in decline — likely not as a result of laziness, but rather overwhelm — it’s never been easier to convert this overwhelm into sales.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Jacquet was raised in the Ile‑de‑France region in greater Paris, a hotbed for talent.
    — Gregg Evans, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of hotbed
Noun
  • Maintaining an even level of soil moisture as the seeds are germinating is also a key component to overseeding success.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Coming in 20 shades, the skin tint is priced at $38 and features a 73 percent skin care formula with ingredients including daikon radish seed and açaí extracts.
    — Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of seed

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seed
seedbed
seedbeds
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Cite this Entry

“Seedbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/seedbed. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on seedbed

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about seedbed

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