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

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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

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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

Few giant cuttlefish appeared for their species’ annual mass mating event off South Australia’s Point Lowly.

— J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026
The male worms, meanwhile, were identified by their copulatory spicules, needle-like structures used to facilitate mating.

— Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of mating

Verb

Clever touches—in-room iMacs; a choice of colors from the bedside light; two do not disturb signs, one of a person sleeping, the other clearly suggesting that the couple inside are not—make your stay memorable, as do the eager-to-please staff.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Oct. 2026
If a sleeper’s partner sees them sleeping on their back, gently moving them onto their side can reduce the chances of sleep paralysis.

— RJ Mackenzie, Popular Science, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of sleeping

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“Copulating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/copulating. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of copulating

noun

verb

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