as in sex
sexual union involving penetration of the vagina by the penis
female pandas are receptive to copulation for a short time once a year
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of copulation
Detectives with the sheriff’s Child Abuse Bureau led the investigation and obtained an arrest warrant for Rutherford on one count of oral copulation on a victim 10 years old or younger and three counts of committing lewd and lascivious acts with a child younger than 14.
—
Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 19 Dec. 2025
In Heated Rivalry, there is consummation aplenty, but the copulation escalates in its own competitive terms.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 26 Nov. 2025
The Valley overlaps geographically with the hippie homeland of San Francisco, Berkeley, and their environs, and there’s long been cross-pollination, if not orgiastic copulation, between the two spheres.
—Literary Hub, 21 Nov. 2025
Brian Peck pleaded no contest to a charge of oral copulation with a minor under 16 as well as a charge of performing a lewd act with a 14- or 15-year-old.
—Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
Joseph was originally charged with forcible oral copulation, false imprisonment, and assault.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2025
Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 19 Dec. 2025
In Heated Rivalry, there is consummation aplenty, but the copulation escalates in its own competitive terms.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 26 Nov. 2025
The Valley overlaps geographically with the hippie homeland of San Francisco, Berkeley, and their environs, and there’s long been cross-pollination, if not orgiastic copulation, between the two spheres.
—Literary Hub, 21 Nov. 2025
Brian Peck pleaded no contest to a charge of oral copulation with a minor under 16 as well as a charge of performing a lewd act with a 14- or 15-year-old.
—Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
Joseph was originally charged with forcible oral copulation, false imprisonment, and assault.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for copulation
Noun
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The findings, from 1,592 U.S. citizens of different ages, sexes, races and incomes, were collected between Dec. 20 and Dec. 22.—
Nicholas Rice,
PEOPLE,
28 Dec. 2025
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On his first day in office, Mr. Trump signed an executive order that declared the federal government would recognize only two immutable sexes: male and female.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
18 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The bigger concern usually isn’t intercourse.—
Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt,
CNN Money,
4 Mar. 2026
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Some speculation has existed about whether the basic physiological processes necessary for intercourse, particularly for men, might be compromised by microgravity.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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After mating, females lay groups of eggs in the soil near plants.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
7 Mar. 2026
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Maas gave what amounts to one of the clearest explanations she’s offered on the mating bond system.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The subcommittee also heard testimony Friday from Fulton County Deputy District Attorney Jeff DiSantis, who handles media relations for Willis' office.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
15 Mar. 2026
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The warnings of mass surveillance, the senior Administration official familiar with the negotiations told me, were a public-relations move designed to capitalize on widespread anti-ICE sentiment.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Copulation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/copulation. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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