You must cultivate your mind.
Source: tatoeba (15952)
Cultivate
/ˈkʌltɪveɪt/
Synonyms for "cultivate" (411 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (83)
Verb(20 words)
advanceameliorateapprenticeapproachbacksetbeautifybetterbreakbreak inbreak the icebreedbring upbrown-nosebutter upcare forcarvecherishchiselcoddlecondition
Adjective(4 words)
agricultural producebacterial culturecivilizational flourishingcivilized world
Noun(27 words)
applied skill developmentaramusbonderisebuild school belongingbuildingbuilding microclimatesbuildsbushescaresscell culturedcivilize through educationcivilizing policyclabbercolony culturecommunication craftconduct developmentcorokiacourtingcradlescrop cultivation
Show 7 more words
crop farmingcultivatingcultural development process approachculture enhancingculture unawareculture valuescultures
Strong matches (123)
Verb(36 words)
developdevelop mathematical abilitydevelop number sensedevelop skillsdevelop speaking skillsdevelopingdeveloping number sensedevelopsdomesticatedomesticateddomesticateseducateeducatesempower critical thinkingencourageengenderenhance team chemistryestablish a habitfarmfarmed
Noun(43 words)
Related words (205)
Noun(80 words)
image shapingimprove oral understandingincubatinginstillingkept animalkweeklanguage learning potentiallearn to behave civillylushesmaizesmake friendsmost domesticatedmouldermushroomingnative language focusedneighborhood gardennon instructional approachnourishingnurture school culturenurturing
Show 60 more words
pattern of behaviorpeaceful reformplant a gardenplant caresplant developmentplant establishmentplanting curiosityplantsploughploughingploughsplowingplowsplowsharepolish kontynentportuguese formaportuguese polidopractice nationality adjectivesprison gardenprivately developedpromoting school belongingpropagatingprospectingpsychopsisraisesranchingsalsifyschool gardeningscrogsseed starting indoorsseedingselectively bredself aware beingsense of individualitysense of school belongingservice orientedshape valuesshapessheetingshepherdskillssophisticatessow litterspadingstarting stockstem cell linestudy habit formationstudy of civilizationstudy skills developmentsubculturesupport native language useswedish byggaswedish produceratillingtillstrowelsvineyard tendingwellbeing practicewillowsyouth garden
improveinstructlaborlavish care onlick into shapelistmachinemaintainmake advancesmake sensitivemake up tomanagematuremillminemothermulchnourishnursenurture
Show 63 more words
pamperpay addresses topay court toperfectplay up toplowpolishpolishedpolitepracticeprepareprocessproducepromotepropagateprunepumppursueput in tuneput to schoolquickenraiserakereadyrearrefinerefinedrehearseripenrun afterseasonsend to schoolsensibilizesensitizesharpenshine up tosmeltspadespoon feedspoon-feedstimulatestirsuck up tosucklesustaintake in handteachtendthinthin outtilltill the soiltrainurbaneweedweed outwell-bredwet nursewet-nursewhetwooworkwork on
Verb(38 words)
improveimprove behavioral qualityincubateincubatedincubatesinstillinstilsmaintain team chemistrymaintain team spiritmouldednaturalisenaturalizenourish populationsnourishednourishesnursednurturenurturednurturesploughed
Show 18 more words
plowplowedpot up cuttingspromotepromote camaraderiepromote communal valuespropagate bacteriapropagatedpropagatesreclaimedschoolstrengthentametilltilledtrainwooswork
Adjective(4 words)
mature studentpotted plant caresteady focus routinesteady focus technique
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: foster, acquire a skill, acquires, advance, agricultural produce.
- Sentence evidence is available for cultivate, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, 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 "cultivate".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "cultivate"
Keep "cultivate" 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 "cultivate" 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 "cultivate", 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 "cultivate" 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
27 entriesShowing 16 of 27 words.
More specific
10 entriesacademic culturecollaborative culturefriendshipinquiry culturemasterypartnershipplowpracticetilltraining
Collocations
6 entriesInflections
3 entriesDerivations
4 entriessimilar
2 entriesSample sentences
18 total sentences available.
Picture books will cultivate the minds of children.
Source: tatoeba (22065)
We should cultivate our minds by reading good books.
Source: tatoeba (22631)
All you have to do is to cultivate the ability to put yourself in the other fellow's place.
Source: tatoeba (40850)
Showing 4 of 18 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "cultivate"?
Closest matches include foster, acquire a skill, acquires, advance, agricultural produce.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "cultivate"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.