Thesaurus results for COPULATING

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

Relevance

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

Noun

These awe-inspiring animals can grow up to 20 feet long and engage in mysterious mating rituals, swimming in synchronous, ascending spirals.

— Samantha Falewée, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Nov. 2026
Animals’ courtship, mating and parenting can reveal behaviors people might assume are strange or unnatural.

— Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 12 Nov. 2026

Definition of mating

Verb

Additionally, everyone in line must be awake; sleeping or lying down is not permitted.

— Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 13 Nov. 2026
The hotel’s top accommodation is the Ritz-Carlton Suite, which has separate living, dining, and sleeping areas, along with a spa-style bathroom, all with incredible views.

— Wendy O'Dea, Robb Report, 12 Nov. 2026

Definition of sleeping

Noun

The Turkish and Azerbaijani presidents reaffirmed their countries’ close ties Sunday in response to growing speculation of souring relations.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Nov. 2026
If Uncle Sam does not change course, America’s unsustainable fiscal mess will result in adverse economic, national security, foreign relations, and domestic tranquility consequences.

— Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of relations

Browse Nearby Words

copulates

copulating

copulation

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Copulating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/copulating. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of copulating

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

boilerplate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Nov. 13

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes