The hen keeps her brood under her.
Source: tatoeba (31751)
Brood
/bɹuːd/
Synonyms for "brood" (174 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (35)
Strong matches (52)
Related words (87)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: agonising, agonize, agonizes, anguished, animal kingdom.
- Sentence evidence is available for brood, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from derived_reverse, moby, wordnet, opengloss, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "brood".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "brood"
Keep "brood" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "brood" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "brood", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "brood" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
15 entriesMore specific
10 entriesCollocations
11 entriesavian incubationbrood carebrood nestbrood of chicksbrood of ducksbrood of hensbrood parasitismbrood sizebroodinessbroodyegg incubation
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
5 entriessimilar
3 entriesSample sentences
24 total sentences available.
In a sunny spot stood a pleasant old farm-house close by a deep river, and from the house down to the water side grew great burdock leaves, so high, that under the tallest of them a little child could stand upright. The spot was as wild as the centre of a thick wood. In this snug retreat sat a duck on her nest, watching for her young brood to hatch; she was beginning to get tired of her task, for the little ones were a long time coming out of their shells, and she seldom had any visitors.
Source: tatoeba (3754658)
On the next day the weather was delightful, and the sun shone brightly on the green burdock leaves, so the mother duck took her young brood down to the water, and jumped in with a splash.
Source: tatoeba (3754749)
To arms I call my comrades, and defy / the loathsome brood to battle.
Source: tatoeba (7016736)
Showing 4 of 24 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "brood"?
Closest matches include agonising, agonize, agonizes, anguished, animal kingdom.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "brood"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.