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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of copulate
Dan Piepenbring, Harper's Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024
Advertisement All of the male apes at the sanctuary receive vasectomies, but that does not preclude them from copulating.
—Amy Kaufman, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2024
Paired with the orchid’s unique color and shape, these adaptations lure male wasps from afar and inspire them to try to copulate with the flower, covering the wasps with pollen in the process.
—Liz Lindqwister, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 July 2024
Now, for the first time ever, citizen scientists have photographed two humpback whales copulating.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for copulate
Verb
Its first appearance in American print resulted from an 1846 Missouri court case in which a man stood accused of copulating with a horse.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harper's Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024
Advertisement All of the male apes at the sanctuary receive vasectomies, but that does not preclude them from copulating.
—Amy Kaufman, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2024
Paired with the orchid’s unique color and shape, these adaptations lure male wasps from afar and inspire them to try to copulate with the flower, covering the wasps with pollen in the process.
—Liz Lindqwister, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 July 2024
Now, for the first time ever, citizen scientists have photographed two humpback whales copulating.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for copulate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for copulate
Verb
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Because mite-resistant flies did not sleep, their oxygen consumption and activity also increased during the night to levels no different from those of control group flies during the day.—
Elizabeth Rayne,
ArsTechnica,
2 May 2025
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Not sleeping well or for long enough directly interferes with memory consolidation, Dr. Blum says.—
Alisa Hrustic,
SELF,
1 May 2025
Noun
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There’s a 30-minute difference between the finishing times of the two sexes, which takes into account a number of physiological advantages men have over women.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Apr. 2025
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Weeks before Ives debuted the shirt, President Donald Trump announced the federal government would recognize only two sexes, male and female.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In that incident, Haley said Weinstein unexpectedly asked to meet her in his hotel room and began having unwanted intercourse with her.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Apr. 2025
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For couples who are temporarily unable to engage in intercourse, there are still many ways to stay connected physically.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
24 Mar. 2025
Noun
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American society and our relations with other societies are driven by the competition/conflict choice.—
Letters to the Editor,
Orlando Sentinel,
4 Jan. 2025
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Insiders describe relations between her and brother Santo as tense and combative.—
Mattia Dognini,
The Hollywood Reporter,
3 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Copulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/copulate. Accessed 13 May. 2025.
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