as in sex
sexual union involving penetration of the vagina by the penis
female pandas are receptive to copulation for a short time once a year
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of copulation
Detectives with the sheriff’s Child Abuse Bureau led the investigation and obtained an arrest warrant for Rutherford on one count of oral copulation on a victim 10 years old or younger and three counts of committing lewd and lascivious acts with a child younger than 14.
—
Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 19 Dec. 2025
In Heated Rivalry, there is consummation aplenty, but the copulation escalates in its own competitive terms.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 26 Nov. 2025
The Valley overlaps geographically with the hippie homeland of San Francisco, Berkeley, and their environs, and there’s long been cross-pollination, if not orgiastic copulation, between the two spheres.
—Literary Hub, 21 Nov. 2025
Brian Peck pleaded no contest to a charge of oral copulation with a minor under 16 as well as a charge of performing a lewd act with a 14- or 15-year-old.
—Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
Joseph was originally charged with forcible oral copulation, false imprisonment, and assault.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2025
Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 19 Dec. 2025
In Heated Rivalry, there is consummation aplenty, but the copulation escalates in its own competitive terms.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 26 Nov. 2025
The Valley overlaps geographically with the hippie homeland of San Francisco, Berkeley, and their environs, and there’s long been cross-pollination, if not orgiastic copulation, between the two spheres.
—Literary Hub, 21 Nov. 2025
Brian Peck pleaded no contest to a charge of oral copulation with a minor under 16 as well as a charge of performing a lewd act with a 14- or 15-year-old.
—Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
Joseph was originally charged with forcible oral copulation, false imprisonment, and assault.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for copulation
Noun
-
The findings, from 1,592 U.S. citizens of different ages, sexes, races and incomes, were collected between Dec. 20 and Dec. 22.—
Nicholas Rice,
PEOPLE,
28 Dec. 2025
-
On his first day in office, Mr. Trump signed an executive order that declared the federal government would recognize only two immutable sexes: male and female.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
18 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Some speculation has existed about whether the basic physiological processes necessary for intercourse, particularly for men, might be compromised by microgravity.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Feb. 2026
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On top of that, one of Colvin’s classmates, Jeremiah Reeves, had recently been arrested for having intercourse with a white woman.—
Essence,
Essence,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
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This year, with a bumper crop of the strange parrot’s favorite berries prompting a rare enthusiasm for mating, those working to save the birds hope for a record number of chicks in February, which would move the kakapo closer to defying what was not long ago believed to be certain extinction.—
Charlotte Graham-McLay,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
-
There’s a courtship, then a mating, and then the pair raise their offspring.—
Joan Morris,
Mercury News,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The National Association Against iGaming supports the Colorado bill because the group opposes online casino games, said Oliver Barie, the organization’s government relations director.—
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
21 Feb. 2026
-
While Don specializes in operations, Joey places a key emphasis on investor relations.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Copulation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/copulation. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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