copulating 1 of 2

noun

as in sex
sexual union involving penetration of the vagina by the penis our Puritan forebears imposed severe penalties for copulating outside of marriage

Synonyms & Similar Words

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copulating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of copulate
as in sleeping
to engage in sexual intercourse the time of year when deer in the wild are likely to copulate

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 copulating
Verb
While copulating, female praying mantises often kill their mates and eat them. — Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 22 June 2026 And finally, wouldn’t being near-perfectly still for an hour make a pair of copulating octopuses ridiculously exposed to predators? — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 2 Apr. 2026 After copulating, the two males lay immobile on the seafloor as the female swam away. — Jack Guy, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for copulating
  1. mating
  2. sleeping
  3. intercourse
  4. relations
Noun
  • In four-day periods every year from March to August, legions of small, silver fish called grunion ride the waves ashore for mating rituals, beginning on the nights of the full and new moons.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026
  • More prominent in males, these pincers are primarily used for defense and mating displays.
    — Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 July 2026
Definition of mating
Verb
  • The monks emulated Buddha’s journey — walking barefoot, eating one meal a day, and sleeping under the stars.
    — Deepa Bharath, Fortune, 17 July 2026
  • Sleep accessories There are those of us who have become accustomed to certain amenities when sleeping, whether that is at a five-star hotel or a backcountry campsite.
    — Clay Abney, Travel + Leisure, 16 July 2026
Definition of sleeping
Noun
  • After intercourse, the teenager had snapped photos of her naked body on a futon as evidence.
    — Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 16 July 2026
  • The two counts of rape Høiby was convicted of did not involve intercourse.
    — Gwladys Fouche, USA Today, 15 June 2026
Definition of intercourse
Noun
  • Both countries also opened a second cluster last week focused on foreign relations, security and defense policies, as well as trade policy, development cooperation and humanitarian aid.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 July 2026
  • The move underscores the increasingly important role AI chips play in diplomatic relations and international politics.
    — Rashi Shrivastava, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of relations

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Cite this Entry

“Copulating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/copulating. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on copulating

Nglish: Translation of copulating for Spanish Speakers

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