mate 1 of 2

noun

Definition of matenext
1
as in half
either of a pair matched in one or more qualities have you seen the mate to this glove anywhere?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in associate
a person frequently seen in the company of another that lout and his mates are known troublemakers in the neighborhood

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in assistant
chiefly British a person who helps a more skilled person a plumber and his mate showed up to fix the sink in our London hotel room

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4
as in partner
the person to whom another is married they vowed to each other that they would remain mates for life

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in friend
chiefly British a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another spent the weekend in London with some of his mates from Oxford

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

mate

2 of 2

verb

as in to sleep
to engage in sexual intercourse cats conceive almost every time they mate

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 mate
Noun
Guimaraes flew to Spain yesterday to join his Newcastle team-mates at their La Manga training camp. — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 5 Aug. 2026 The bird in the video was presumed to be Jackie, who originally went viral after a camera was set up showing her and her mate Shadow’s daily lives at their nest. — Janey Wetzel, PEOPLE, 4 Aug. 2026
Verb
Wild turkeys can be particularly aggressive during mating season. — Elan Abrell, The Conversation, 22 July 2026 The queen lays the eggs, 1,000 a day; the drones’ sole purpose is to mate with the queen; worker bees forage for nectar and pollen, as well as build, repair, and defend the hive. — Richard Schiffman, Christian Science Monitor, 22 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for mate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mate
  1. half
  2. associate
  3. assistant
  4. partner
  5. friend
  6. sleep
  7. match
  8. buddy
Noun
  • With over $15 billion in revenue for the first half of 2026, the industry is poised to exceed $30 billion for the year, a level not seen since 2014, driven by AI workload demand.
    — Thomas Coughlin, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The Valkyries have now won 13 of their last 15 games and are a game-and-a-half ahead of Las Vegas for the second playoff seed following the Aces’ loss at New York on Sunday.
    — Marisa Ingemi, Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of half
Noun
  • The brand introduced professional instructors who travel across the country to train and support Claire’s store associates.
    — Sharon Edelson, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Western governments have shunned and sanctioned Min Aung Hlaing and his associates for overthrowing Suu Kyi's government.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of associate
Noun
  • Second-year University of Connecticut student Kira Mesick jumped at the chance to fill a resident assistant job at the university’s new, $29 million residence hall in downtown Hartford, seizing on its Pratt Street location.
    — Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Sustaining a life in medicine would be impossible without the support of my colleagues — doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, medical assistants, technicians and translators.
    — Rajani LaRocca, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of assistant
Noun
  • Cocaine trafficking is not a victimless crime, and the FBI and our partners will use every tool at our disposal to keep ridding our communities of these deadly narcotics.
    — Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The men’s World Cup showed that brands do not need to spend millions of dollars on becoming an official partner to garner attention.
    — Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of partner
Noun
  • Prosecutors had said that Laster and Rozier, longtime friends, were part of a group called GMB that publicly flaunted its access to guns and that Laster allegedly relied on to intimidate witnesses.
    — Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026
  • While everyone tries to photograph the actual eclipse, French prefers a different perspective if viewing the event with friends or family.
    — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of friend
Verb
  • But when strange, dangerous things begin to happen to the sleeping clientele, Penny must uncover the mystery before the nightmare spreads beyond the store.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 12 Aug. 2026
  • For three months, the two rappers slept, showered and worked there.
    — Kailyn Brown, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of sleep
Noun
  • If the game is level after regulation time, the match will go straight to a penalty shootout, with no extra time to be played.
    — Dean Jones, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Brock Lesnar's final three matches Per WWE records and contemporaneous reporting.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of match
Noun
  • Proudly stupid and surprisingly sweet, Dylan Meyer’s stoner buddy comedy is a tribute to friendship best enjoyed with your own ride-or-die by your side — joints optional.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The two became annual dive buddies in the Sea of Cortez, where Kennedy often shared stories of a giant manta ray.
    — Maya Santiago, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of buddy

Phrases Containing mate

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matchups
mate
mated
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Cite this Entry

“Mate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mate. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on mate

Nglish: Translation of mate for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mate

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