as in mutualistic
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Recent Examples of commensal
This process called a commensal pathway in animal domestication occurs when the animal is attracted to human settlements, instead of humans actively trying to recruit the animals.
—
Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 June 2025
According to some biologists, this might show that these birds are on their way to becoming commensal with humans—benefiting from living closely alongside them—like pigeons have in urban areas.
—Jorge Garay, Wired News, 29 May 2025
Dreamtime by Simon Theuma This small, commensal shrimp almost appears to be swimming over a tapestry, but in reality, the technicolor backdrop is the body of a mosaic sea star.
—Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Jan. 2024
Science defines the rat’s relationship to humans as commensal: an association between two species in which one benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed.
—WIRED, 7 Oct. 2023
In fact, it’s become clear that many of these commensal bacteria use the glycans studding mucin molecules as a primary source of energy.
—Diana Kwon, Discover Magazine, 9 July 2019
Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 June 2025
According to some biologists, this might show that these birds are on their way to becoming commensal with humans—benefiting from living closely alongside them—like pigeons have in urban areas.
—Jorge Garay, Wired News, 29 May 2025
Dreamtime by Simon Theuma This small, commensal shrimp almost appears to be swimming over a tapestry, but in reality, the technicolor backdrop is the body of a mosaic sea star.
—Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Jan. 2024
Science defines the rat’s relationship to humans as commensal: an association between two species in which one benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed.
—WIRED, 7 Oct. 2023
In fact, it’s become clear that many of these commensal bacteria use the glycans studding mucin molecules as a primary source of energy.
—Diana Kwon, Discover Magazine, 9 July 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commensal
Adjective
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Corals, too, have a mutualistic relationship with some seagrasses.—
David George Haskell,
Big Think,
27 Mar. 2026
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Reciprocity sustains mutualistic exchange.—
Scott Hutcheson,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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While Atletico’s strike partnership is symbiotic, intricate and cerebral, Arsenal have an explosive focal point in Viktor Gyokeres — a different model of striker entirely.—
Sukhman Singh,
New York Times,
5 May 2026
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Trump’s symbiotic relationship with members of the media, and his desire for their input on actual policy, has been well documented.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
4 May 2026
Adjective
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The full nine-mile extension is scheduled to be completed by fall of 2027—just in time for the 2028 Summer Olympics, when Los Angeles will need to move millions of visitors between more than forty venues across one of the most car-dependent cities on earth.—
Oren Peleg,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
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What color blooms your hydrangeas will deliver is dependent on the pH level of the soil in which it's planted.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Commensal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commensal. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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