Synonyms of associate

associate 1 of 3

verb

ə-ˈsō-shē-ˌāt 

1

as in to travel

to come or be together as friends

a socially ambitious couple who joined the country club in order to associate with the right sort of people

Synonyms & Similar Words

• travel
• connect
• run
• join
• relate
• collaborate
• bond
• mix
• company
• mingle
• befriend
• sort
• fraternize
• consort
• cooperate
• hook up
• friend
• take up with
• rub shoulders (with)
• hang (around or out)
• fall in with
• affiliate
• pal (around)
• keep company (with)
• chum
• group
• rub elbows (with)
• consociate
• tie
• attach
• club
• hobnob
• team
• mess around
• be friends with
• socialize
• ally
• couple
• interrelate
• get along
• link
• rally
• confederate
• get on
• conjoin
• collude
• gang
• band
• knot
• side
• league
• wed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• avoid
• shun
• alienate
• snub
• split (up)
• disperse
• cold-shoulder
• break up
• dissociate
• split
• disband
• sever
• estrange
• divorce
• disjoin
• disunite
• sunder

2

as in to identify

to think of (something) in combination

she still associates Memorial Day with her long-ago fiancé, who died in Vietnam

Synonyms & Similar Words

• identify
• correlate
• connect
• equate
• compare
• relate
• link
• group
• tie (together)
• liken
• join
• lump (together)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• distinguish
• differentiate
• separate
• set off
• discriminate
• contrast

3

as in to combine

to come together to form a single unit

the elements hydrogen and oxygen associate to form molecules of water

Synonyms & Similar Words

• combine
• connect
• join
• fuse
• unite
• unify
• couple
• coalesce
• link (up)
• marry
• conjugate
• conjoin
• interfuse
• mate
• confederate
• ally
• league
• yoke
• compound
• splice
• chain
• congregate
• cluster
• rejoin
• assemble
• reconnect
• reunite
• meet
• convene
• gather
• hook
• constellate
• recombine
• hitch
• reunify

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• section
• split
• separate
• sever
• part
• break up
• dissociate
• isolate
• resolve
• divide
• detach
• disconnect
• divorce
• unlink
• uncouple
• dissever
• sunder
• fractionate
• disperse
• scatter
• disband
• disjoin
• disaffiliate
• disunite
• disjoint
• unyoke

4

as in to cooperate

to form or enter into an association that furthers the interests of its members

nations deciding to associate in order to remove trade barriers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cooperate
• unite
• collaborate
• merge
• confederate
• club
• federate
• organize
• ally
• coalesce
• pull together
• join
• league
• close ranks
• consolidate
• band (together)
• cohere
• affiliate
• conjoin
• combine
• converge
• incorporate
• group
• hang together
• amalgamate
• link
• team (up)
• unionize
• tie
• conglomerate
• gang up
• cabal
• knot
• wed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• break up
• separate
• split
• disband
• dissolve
• segregate
• sever
• detach
• part
• disengage
• divorce
• fall out
• alienate
• disunite
• sunder
• estrange

5

as in to mix

to take part in social activities

you should try to associate with people your own age

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mix
• mingle
• socialize
• party
• go out
• fraternize
• step out
• rub elbows
• revel
• hobnob
• carouse
• circulate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• avoid
• shun
• eschew
• slight
• snub

associate

2 of 3

noun

ə-ˈsō-shē-ət 

1

as in colleague

a person frequently seen in the company of another

a number of his associates were members of organized crime, so he was a person of interest to the FBI

Synonyms & Similar Words

• colleague
• friend
• buddy
• accomplice
• peer
• fellow
• cohort
• partner
• companion
• classmate
• comrade
• running mate
• compatriot
• crony
• compeer
• teammate
• affiliate
• collaborator
• mate
• hobnobber
• familiar
• ally
• coworker
• pal
• confidant
• intimate
• equal
• chum
• half
• roommate
• hearty
• workmate
• escort
• shipmate
• playmate
• schoolmate
• housemate
• attendant
• countryman
• playfellow
• confederate
• parasite
• leech
• messmate
• hanger-on

2

as in partner

a fellow worker

my associates at the office

Synonyms & Similar Words

• colleague
• partner
• coworker
• peer
• buddy
• confrere
• collaborator
• fellow
• copartner
• accomplice
• ally
• pal
• half
• cohort
• chum
• equal
• comrade
• companion
• crony
• confederate
• compatriot
• countryman

associate

3 of 3

adjective

as in auxiliary

Related Words

• auxiliary
• subsidiary
• secondary
• second-class
• subordinate
• jerkwater
• two-bit
• less
• petty
• junior
• lower
• second-rate
• one-horse
• lesser
• small
• little
• smaller
• minor
• minute
• mean
• inferior

Dissimilar Words

• more
• higher
• senior
• greater
• major
• primary
• prime
• superior
• superordinate
• exceptional
• first-class
• choice
• first-rate

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb associate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of associate are combine, connect, join, link, relate, and unite. While all these words mean "to bring or come together into some manner of union," associate stresses the mere fact of frequent occurrence or existence together in space or in logical relation.

opera is popularly associated with high society

When would combine be a good substitute for associate?

The words combine and associate can be used in similar contexts, but combine implies some merging or mingling with corresponding loss of identity of each unit.

combined jazz and rock to create a new music

When is connect a more appropriate choice than associate?

While the synonyms connect and associate are close in meaning, connect suggests a loose or external attachment with little or no loss of identity.

a mutual defense treaty connected the two nations

Where would join be a reasonable alternative to associate?

In some situations, the words join and associate are roughly equivalent. However, join implies a bringing into contact or conjunction of any degree of closeness.

joined forces in an effort to win

When might link be a better fit than associate?

Although the words link and associate have much in common, link may imply strong connection or inseparability of elements still retaining identity.

a name forever linked with liberty

When can relate be used instead of associate?

The meanings of relate and associate largely overlap; however, relate suggests the existence of a real or presumed logical connection.

related what he observed to what he already knew

In what contexts can unite take the place of associate?

While in some cases nearly identical to associate, unite implies somewhat greater loss of separate identity.

the colonies united to form a republic

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of associate

Verb

But there’s risks associated with rolling out a universal basic income policy, too, Marinescu suggested. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 1 Feb. 2026

While the song mentions no animals, in Germany the tradition became associated with hedgehogs, later transitioning to groundhogs in the United States. —Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 1 Feb. 2026

Noun

At the time of his death, in 1987, Feldman seemed destined to be remembered as a particularly esoteric associate of John Cage’s. —Alex Ross, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026

The arrest came after Wedding and associates traveled from Canada to San Diego, California, to buy cocaine as part of a drug trafficking organization based in Vancouver, according to an affidavit. —Josh Campbell, CNN Money, 23 Jan. 2026

Adjective

Ruemmler also served as associate White House counsel to former President Bill Clinton. —Patrick Maguire, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026

Carroll promoted associate head coach and defensive coordinator Lee Munn to head coach by a unanimous vote at a school board meeting Monday night. —Greg Riddle, Dallas Morning News, 2 Feb. 2026