housebroken

[ hous-broh-kuhn ]

adjective

1. (of a pet) trained to avoid excreting inside the house or in improper places.

Word History and Origins

Origin of housebroken¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; house + broken

Example Sentences

Gary falls for this blasé goddess immediately, paddling around her like a not-yet-housebroken puppy.

From Time

As Democratic doyenne Pamela Harriman once put it, "he's not entirely housebroken."

From The Daily Beast

Casey owned four dogs, not one of whom was properly housebroken.

From The Daily Beast

Of course, it'll be harder gettin' 'em housebroken if you don't let 'em into the house, but I'll guarantee you'll do it.

From Project Gutenberg

This is a quickie Rum Tum Tiddy, without any onion, a poor, housebroken version of the original.

From Project Gutenberg

Their other "lady" friends have made them safe—housebroken, she added with a smile over the phrase.

From Project Gutenberg

He would consider himself hell on the women until snared and housebroken by some broad-beamed breeder who knew what she wanted.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• docile
• gentle
• harmless
• manageable
• mild
• subdued