as in mutualistic
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Recent Examples of commensal
For example, cleaning stations are mutualistic while hitchhiking is commensal.
—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
2 Feb. 2026
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
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
2 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commensal
Adjective
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By comparing interspecies cooperation with communication systems found within species and in other mutualistic relationships, the authors provide a broader framework for understanding how cooperation emerges and persists.
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Emily Yeager, the lead author of the study, told USA TODAY in an interview that the symbiotic relationship between remoras and their hosts had been considered either mutualistic, where both species benefit or commensal, where one benefits without affecting the other.
Adjective
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Kombucha Kombucha is made by combining tea with sugar, which serves as food for the symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts (SCOBY) during fermentation.
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Wilson described a symbiotic relationship between his individual growth and that of his new team.
Adjective
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This is dependent on the base model specifications absorbing the pressure from the supply chain to maintain an acceptable margin.
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While other platforms looked at diversifying their revenue through subscriptions, Pinterest remains entirely dependent on ad revenue.
Cite this Entry
“Commensal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commensal. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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