Thesaurus results for FORNICATION

fornication

noun

Definition of fornication

as in sex

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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 fornication Songs were also frequently flagged as dance music—while authorities viewed singing as having a proper place in praising God, dancing was totally forbidden as a gateway to fornication. — Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 9 May 2025 Strong was promoted to Hand of the King after King Viserys banished Otto Hightower from court in the wake of allegations of fornication between Princess Rhaenyra and Prince Daemon. — Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 13 June 2024 Because surely, surely, the housewives of Dublin were not so lustful that chance encounters with tradesmen led immediately to attacks of passion and fornication? — Mary Costello, The New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2023 Cleon is in the throes of hot, sweaty fornication with his robot aid, Laura Birn's Eto, when a group of assassins infiltrate his quarters and attack. — Nick Romano, EW.com, 10 July 2023

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fornication

Noun

In April, he was charged with one count of kidnapping to commit another crime, one count of first degree residential robbery, two counts of forcible oral copulation and one count of rape, The Times reported.

— Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
More than likely, based on Golden State statutes, the eight years Weinstein received for the forcible oral copulation conviction will be reduced by a couple of years.

— Dominic Patten, Deadline, 26 June 2026

Definition of copulation

Noun

Stanton hooked up with a grad student named Moira, a Slovenian with dark hair and novel takes on both Internal Energy Market rules and plein-air coitus.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2026
What this means for me, practically speaking, is that the director wants a close-up of my face as my character Joe is deep in dissociative reverie mid-coitus.

— Sophie Ansari, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025

Definition of coitus

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

Noun

The Museum of Modern Art rejected her films because of their depictions of lesbian lovemaking, Hammer claimed in an archival recording included by O’Connor.

— Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
In those seconds a number of things could’ve happened, even a détente resulting in lovemaking, but nothing did.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of lovemaking

Noun

Even though relations between the pair had been publicly disintegrating for weeks, Stevens' announcement was a surprise.

— Barbara Sprunt, NPR, 1 Nov. 2026
She’s expected to continue Radev’s policy of keeping Bulgaria on its European path, while also supporting better relations with Russia and the lifting of sanctions.

— Veselin Toshkov, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of relations

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fornicating

fornication

for real

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“Fornication.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fornication. Accessed 4 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of fornication

noun

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