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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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
The amount of daylight, cool temperatures, and intermittent rain in autumn mimic what happens in spring when the peepers actively court and mate. — Sheryl Devore, Chicago Tribune, 13 Oct. 2026 Every gaucho keeps his mate and his radio within close reach. — Jordan Salama, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Verb
Choice overload isn’t unique to frogs, or even to mate choice. — Claire Therese Hemingway, The Conversation, 1 Oct. 2026 In addition, the two groups tend to mate on or near their respective host plants, further reducing interbreeding. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Sep. 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
  • More than half of the district’s student body is Hispanic or Latino.
    — Philip Wang, Time, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The combination of Chance downing teams inside the 10-yard line combined with a suffocating defense could be a recipe for success for TCU in the final half of the season.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of half
Noun
  • With the support of our Board of Trustees, Valencia has established a minimum average annual graduate earnings benchmark of $42,000 for our associate in science programs.
    — Kathleen Plinske, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Federal prosecutors say Bailey and an associate tricked people out of $2 million from 2018 to 2022.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of associate
Noun
  • In 2019 he was appointed deputy assistant secretary of defense for strategy and force development.
    — Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The legal questions are also different from those raised by earlier smart speakers and voice assistants.
    — MacKenzie Sigalos,Annie Palmer, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of assistant
Noun
  • The question confronting Israel and its international partners is not simply whether money should flow into Gaza, but also who controls it—and whether the next arrangement will avoid the failures of the last.
    — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 18 Oct. 2026
  • In the middle of one of those summer heatwaves this year, Kember was in the promotional cycle for a record with his new partner of 15 years, Panda Bear.
    — Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of partner
Noun
  • But two years ago, Gyles Brandreth, an author and friend of Christopher's, traveled to New York as an emissary of Queen Camilla hoping to arrange an anniversary stay at Buckingham Palace for the 105-year-old fleecy emigres.
    — STEVE HENDRIX THE WASHINGTON POST, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Lee recruited a friend to help move the box to her bedroom, but the setup itself took less than 10 minutes.
    — Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of friend
Verb
  • Just one day earlier, he was diagnosed with a superficial blood clot in his left calf and ordered by doctors to stay awake overnight, according to NFL insiders, who report the quarterback did not sleep for roughly 36 hours.
    — Mark Osborne, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
  • As a result, your mind is always searching for the next project to tackle or problem to solve, distracting you while hanging out with family or keeping you from sleeping.
    — Melody Wilding, Contributor, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of sleep
Noun
  • The setting's soft color scheme matches the muted tone of his voice, with the congressman wearing a light-blue shirt in the cream-and-beige kitchen.
    — Lara Korte The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The Kansas State High School Activities Association said its scheduled flag football state championship has been suspended, along with any other of its matches through the weekend.
    — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of match
Noun
  • Here for work the next couple of days and possibly have Wednesday and Thursday night open if my buddy can’t make it into town for work as might have to be in Alabama instead.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Louis-Dreyfus plays Polly Wyeth, a staunch California Republican in the mold of her buddy Nancy Reagan.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 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 24 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on mate

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mate

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