mate 1 of 2

noun

Definition of matenext
1
as in half
either of a pair matched in one or more qualities have you seen the mate to this glove anywhere?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in associate
a person frequently seen in the company of another that lout and his mates are known troublemakers in the neighborhood

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3
as in assistant
chiefly British a person who helps a more skilled person a plumber and his mate showed up to fix the sink in our London hotel room

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4
as in partner
the person to whom another is married they vowed to each other that they would remain mates for life

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in friend
chiefly British a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another spent the weekend in London with some of his mates from Oxford

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

mate

2 of 2

verb

as in to sleep
to engage in sexual intercourse cats conceive almost every time they mate

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 mate
Noun
Fireflies like to cling to tall grass blades when signaling mates, but longer grass also helps fireflies by increasing soil moisture levels and providing extra sheltering spots. — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 July 2026 Bloody conflicts over territory, mates, and more are common in social animals, and several species have their own anticipatory behaviors to prepare when a fight looks imminent. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 16 July 2026
Verb
Even for species that mate for life, there may be survival benefits to teaming up with one partner while continuing to mate and have offspring with others. — Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 8 July 2026 The weapon of choice to keep the screwworm at bay is a plant in Pacora, Panama, that has been continually churning out sterile flies, which mate with wild female flies to halt reproduction. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for mate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mate
  1. half
  2. associate
  3. assistant
  4. partner
  5. friend
  6. sleep
  7. match
  8. buddy
Noun
  • For much of the second half, Argentina played with plenty of perspiration, but little by way of inspiration.
    — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • About half of America’s states still have an average price below $4 a gallon, however.
    — Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
Definition of half
Noun
  • Large data centers also use a lot of electricity, which can destabilize the power grid and lead to outages, said Rachel Mural, a senior research associate at the Harvard Kennedy School.
    — Alexandra Phelps, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026
  • Public interest in the files has remained high amid longstanding speculation about Epstein’s associates and whether additional government records exist.
    — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 16 July 2026
Definition of associate
Noun
  • That’s according to the European Commission, which is now cracking down on what that means for AI assistants.
    — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 19 July 2026
  • The video assistant referee, on the whole, was judged to have been a success.
    — Chris Marshall-Bell, New York Times, 19 July 2026
Definition of assistant
Noun
  • Durán Guerrero’s neighbor said the young man, who was headed to work when the shooting happened, lived with his partner and their 3-year-old daughter.
    — Julianna Bragg, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
  • Urban League of Greater Miami, Inc, Black-Owned Media Alliance, and National Pan-Hellenic Council of Miami-Dade are community partners of the forum.
    — Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026
Definition of partner
Noun
  • Court documents state that Goldbourne met the girl through mutual friends and the two texted to plan a time to meet up.
    — Kairi Lowery, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026
  • Her friend offered a cigarette and Cai, searching her brain for a reason to say no, couldn’t find one.
    — Jessica M. Goldstein, Washington Post, 14 July 2026
Definition of friend
Verb
  • At night, the entire dining area converts into a 180 x 90-cm (70 x 35-in) bed perfect for sleeping a child or two.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 July 2026
  • Gosman’s Dock is only an eight-minute drive away, filled with stellar lunch spots (don’t sleep on The Dock Bar).
    — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026
Definition of sleep
Noun
  • He was also sent off for a headbutt against an opponent who provoked him in his last ever match, which happened to be the 2006 World Cup final; his human reaction laid bare on the highest stage of all.
    — Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • The SummerSlam card, featuring major title matches, appears largely set.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of match
Noun
  • Apple Original Films has dropped the first trailer for Mayday, the upcoming action-buddy-comedy starring Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh ahead of its September 4 bow on Apple TV.
    — Denise Petski, Deadline, 14 July 2026
  • Creator Tessa Coates centers her buddy comedy on two women who are both very, very alike and very, very different.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2026
Definition of buddy

Phrases Containing mate

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matchups
mate
mated
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Cite this Entry

“Mate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mate. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on mate

Nglish: Translation of mate for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mate

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