Synonyms of associate

associate 1 of 5

verb (1)

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 5

noun (1)

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 5

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

associates

4 of 5

verb (2)

present tense third-person singular of associate

1

as in travels

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

• travels
• bonds
• collaborates
• companies
• connects
• joins
• runs
• friends
• mixes
• relates
• sorts
• chums
• consorts
• mingles
• allies
• befriends
• affiliates
• cooperates
• fraternizes
• hooks up
• groups
• rubs shoulders (with)
• hangs (around or out)
• takes up with
• falls in with
• teams
• pals (around)
• keeps company (with)
• ties
• rubs elbows (with)
• clubs
• consociates
• couples
• gangs
• hobnobs
• links
• sides
• messes around
• rallies
• socializes
• is friends with
• interrelates
• colludes
• bands
• confederates
• gets on
• gets along
• attaches
• conjoins
• leagues
• knots
• weds

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• avoids
• shuns
• alienates
• snubs
• estranges
• cold-shoulders
• splits (up)
• breaks up
• disperses
• splits
• dissociates
• disbands
• severs
• divorces
• disjoins
• sunders
• disunites

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

• identifies
• correlates
• connects
• links
• equates
• relates
• compares
• groups
• ties (together)
• joins
• likens
• lumps (together)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• contrasts
• distinguishes
• separates
• differentiates
• sets off
• discriminates

3

as in combines

to come together to form a single unit

the elements hydrogen and oxygen associate to form molecules of water

Synonyms & Similar Words

• combines
• connects
• fuses
• couples
• joins
• unites
• allies
• unifies
• mates
• links (up)
• conjugates
• coalesces
• conjoins
• marries
• interfuses
• chains
• confederates
• compounds
• yokes
• clusters
• leagues
• splices
• rejoins
• assembles
• reunites
• reconnects
• convenes
• constellates
• hooks
• hitches
• meets
• recombines
• congregates
• gathers
• reunifies

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• parts
• sections
• splits
• separates
• severs
• breaks up
• isolates
• sunders
• resolves
• disconnects
• divides
• dissociates
• dissevers
• divorces
• unlinks
• detaches
• uncouples
• disjoins
• fractionates
• disunites
• disperses
• unyokes
• disjoints
• scatters
• disbands
• disaffiliates

4

as in cooperates

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

• cooperates
• allies
• unites
• collaborates
• federates
• clubs
• confederates
• merges
• affiliates
• pulls together
• organizes
• groups
• coalesces
• leagues
• bands (together)
• coheres
• closes ranks
• joins
• conjoins
• consolidates
• hangs together
• converges
• teams (up)
• links
• incorporates
• amalgamates
• unionizes
• ties
• gangs up
• combines
• cabals
• conglomerates
• knots
• weds

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• parts
• breaks up
• disbands
• splits
• dissolves
• separates
• segregates
• severs
• divorces
• disengages
• detaches
• falls out
• alienates
• estranges
• sunders
• disunites

5

as in mixes

to take part in social activities

you should try to associate with people your own age

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mixes
• mingles
• socializes
• parties
• goes out
• rubs elbows
• fraternizes
• steps out
• revels
• hobnobs
• carouses
• circulates

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• avoids
• shuns
• eschews
• snubs
• slights

associates

5 of 5

noun (2)

plural of associate

1

as in colleagues

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

• colleagues
• friends
• peers
• buddies
• accomplices
• cohorts
• companions
• comrades
• fellows
• classmates
• partners
• compatriots
• compeers
• cronies
• teammates
• mates
• collaborators
• allies
• coworkers
• running mates
• affiliates
• hobnobbers
• pals
• workmates
• confidants
• intimates
• chums
• equals
• confederates
• countrymen
• familiars
• playmates
• shipmates
• halves
• schoolmates
• roommates
• attendants
• housemates
• messmates
• parasites
• escorts
• leeches
• playfellows
• hangers-on
• hearties

2

as in coworkers

a fellow worker

my associates at the office

Synonyms & Similar Words

• colleagues
• coworkers
• peers
• partners
• buddies
• confreres
• allies
• collaborators
• accomplices
• fellows
• equals
• cohorts
• pals
• comrades
• companions
• copartners
• confederates
• halves
• countrymen
• compatriots
• chums
• cronies

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

While unions secured general salary increases last year to offset the salary reductions associated with the leave program, the agreements did not include similar increases in July 2026. — William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026

The plasma process also produced very little smoke or tar, reducing harmful secondary pollutants typically associated with biomass conversion and making the technology a cleaner way to produce renewable solid fuel. — New Atlas, 1 July 2026

Noun

The new attorney general did not rule out the possibility of legal action against Porras, who has several complaints against her, including one for human trafficking in irregular adoptions, and her associates. — ABC News, 1 July 2026

The timing of the sudden announcement has become the focus of a lawsuit against DeLuca and UC Davis senior associate athletics director Heather Hunter. — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026

Adjective

The Supreme Court justices are worth more than their government salaries − which in 2025 were $317,500 for the chief justice and $303,600 for the eight associate justices. — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 30 June 2026

For associate membership, with annual dues of $650, players must have earned a WTA singles ranking of 500 or doubles ranking of 175 for one week and played in a minimum of three tour-level tournaments in the previous 12 months. — Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 30 June 2026

Verb

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

The third vessel, for example, contains circular discs symbolizing water, which Chan associates with rebirth. — Anthony Demarco, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026

Noun

As part of their guilty-plea agreements, all six antifa associates acknowledged their affiliation with the Dallas-area antifa cell and confessed to a single count of providing material support to terrorists. — Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 1 July 2026

The new attorney general did not rule out the possibility of legal action against Porras, who has several complaints against her, including one for human trafficking in irregular adoptions, and her associates. — ABC News, 1 July 2026