associates 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of associate
1
2
as in identifies
to think of (something) in combination she still associates Memorial Day with her long-ago fiancé, who died in Vietnam

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
4
5
as in mixes
to take part in social activities you should try to associate with people your own age

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

associates

2 of 2

noun

plural of associate

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 associates
Verb
The third vessel, for example, contains circular discs symbolizing water, which Chan associates with rebirth. Anthony Demarco, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026 In practical terms, that means Forest now associates humans with food and safety, the opposite of what a wild deer needs to survive. Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 28 Apr. 2026 Greene’s heart-to-heart media tour has been jarring liberals and anyone else who associates her with conspiratorial beliefs and outrageous comments. Erin Mansfield, USA Today, 21 Nov. 2025 Everyone associates that with us. Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 8 Oct. 2025 Hunger can be another motivator, especially if your feline associates certain times or behaviors with food. Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025 Especially given the fact that the latter only associates itself with organic style stars, not limited to Solange and Beyoncé. Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 25 Aug. 2025 The brain also associates hyperarousal while playing video games with dopamine. Sponsored Content, Denver Post, 22 Aug. 2025
Noun
In the film's final moments, Hugo and his associates wheel a living, breathing alien into the news station. Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026 These cameras are used for the purpose of detecting and preventing theft and protecting the safety of our customers and associates. Julie Sharp, CBS News, 12 June 2026 Their investigations have identified more than 15,000 online accounts on popular online platforms, and more than 1,500 people linked to violence as a service crimes — the overwhelming bulk of which are suspects and their various associates. ABC News, 12 June 2026 That’s when former company president George Garvin Brown II began picking very select single barrels for close associates and friends of the brand. David Thomas Tao, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026 When Palm Springs Life published a living history feature on Harold Matzner in 2017, the editor had to impose a strict deadline just to cap the overwhelming response from his friends and associates. Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 11 June 2026 The e-commerce giant acquired 14 return centers and 800 associates through the sale. Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 11 June 2026 Bondi has repeatedly faced scrutiny over allegations that the DOJ has, over several presidential administrations, shielded Epstein associates from accountability. Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 29 May 2026 Over 30 people, including members and associates of four major Mafia crime families, Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and ex-NBA player Damon Jones, have been ensnared in the criminal operation. Tom Winter, NBC news, 28 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for associates
Verb
  • Now on sale for $60, the Levi’s Baggy Cinch Jeans are a slightly more casual wide-leg option that are still perfect for your summer travels with their breathable fit despite their non-stretch, 100 percent cotton construction.
    Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 11 June 2026
  • Traditional chemotherapy travels throughout the body and affects both cancerous and healthy cells.
    William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
Verb
  • The collaboration comes after Ephea was incubated by Kering’s Material Innovation Lab in Milan, which identifies, evolves, and helps to operationalize hundreds of alternative materials, with the hope of embedding them into brand collections.
    Bella Webb, Vogue, 11 June 2026
  • Without consistent investment into the very systems our economies depend on, ‘unanticipated shocks’, which the OBR identifies as having the most significant negative effects on the economy, are increasingly likely to be linked to the loss of natural resources.
    Nina Seega, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
Verb
  • With each development milestone, MBDA moves closer to delivering a next-generation air-to-air weapon that combines advanced sensors, extended range, and superior flexibility.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 7 June 2026
  • After Rieder wins the second ball and combines with Ndoye, Widmer dashes forward and attacks the space between Kosovo’s full-back and left-winger.
    Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 5 June 2026
Verb
  • When the weather cooperates, the courtyard becomes one of downtown's most appealing outdoor drinking spots.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 May 2026
  • Create a space that meets your emotional needs as the sun cooperates with Neptune.
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 24 May 2026
Verb
  • For graphic interest that still reads neutral, Quiet Town's Tam mixes clay, chocolate, and cream tones.
    Jasmine Desiree, Architectural Digest, 3 June 2026
  • Set in a quiet residential neighborhood, this intimate beachfront property (whose name mixes the owners’ first initials with the Dutch word for oasis) uses dense, vibrant landscaping and shutters and stone walls between guest rooms to create a cocooning feeling of privacy.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Noun
  • While acknowledging policy disagreements with colleagues on how best to address street homelessness, Raman argued the city should focus on directing resources toward strategies that have been proven to move people indoors.
    Teresa Liu, Daily News, 11 June 2026
  • Nguyen addressed her colleagues’ concerns directly on Tuesday.
    Claire Wang, Oc Register, 10 June 2026
Verb
  • The narrator and his wife find that their attachment to the charismatic and cryptic Chibi grows with the cat’s increasing visits, in a way that bewilders them but somehow bonds them closer together.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 June 2026
  • The Pennsylvania native made her TV acting debut on the HBO hit as Faye, the adrift addict who bonds with Fezco (the late Angus Cloud) and later Rue (Zendaya), after previously establishing herself in adult films, with creator Sam Levinson casting her directly.
    David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 1 June 2026
Verb
  • Mounted on either side of the steering wheel, each Halo wheel correlates with functions that get brought up on the digital gauge cluster depending on how they are pushed, pulled, slid, or rotated.
    Joel Feder, The Drive, 11 June 2026
  • This copy number variation correlates directly with salivary amylase protein levels — more copies, more enzyme, more starch-digesting capacity.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Associates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/associates. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.

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