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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Not so fast The relationship between carmakers and weapons manufacturing has always been symbiotic.—
Sam Meredith,Joseph Wilkins,
CNBC,
5 Apr. 2026
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The wild mushrooms enjoy a symbiotic relationship with deadwood.—
Midwest Living,
Midwest Living,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The camp is entirely dependent on aid, disrupted after cuts by USAID last year and again by fighting between Syrian and Kurdish forces this February.—
Jane Arraf,
NPR,
11 Apr. 2026
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Bosch went on to emphasize that the impact the Miss Universe crown could have was dependent on the person wearing it.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Commensal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commensal. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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