plant/sow the seeds of

idiom

1
: to cause (an idea, feeling, etc.) to be in someone's mind
Opponents have succeeded in planting/sowing the seeds of suspicion/doubt in our team.
2
: to create a situation in which (something) is likely or certain to happen or develop
They have planted/sowed the seeds of their own destruction.

Examples of plant/sow the seeds of in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
This film is about ideas and thought starters to create transformation and to plant the seeds of change for a more inclusive world. Matthew Carey, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2024 This week Vox’s Sean Illing talks with Harari, author of a mind-bending new book, Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks, about how the information systems that shape our world often sow the seeds of destruction. Sean Illing, Vox, 22 Sep. 2024 The Nazis effectively used a visually striking mix of incendiary words and images in their magazine to constantly sow the seeds of doubt among readers. Daniel H. Magilow, The Conversation, 12 Sep. 2024 France’s approach to counterterrorism in Mali helped sow the seeds of military discontent that led to multiple coups between 2020 and 2021. Christopher Michael Faulkner, The Conversation, 9 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for plant/sow the seeds of 

Dictionary Entries Near plant/sow the seeds of

Cite this Entry

“Plant/sow the seeds of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plant%2Fsow%20the%20seeds%20of. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!