1
as in halves
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 associates
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 assistants
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in partners
the person to whom another is married
they vowed to each other that they would remain mates for life
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in friends
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in sleeps
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 mates
Kelsey Monstrola, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
During this period, alligators tend to be more active and may travel outside their usual habitats in search of mates, sometimes showing up in neighborhoods, roadways and other unexpected places.
—Sergio Candido, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
The Colombian’s team-mates subsequently pulled out of the stage of the Vuelta Asturias Julio Alvarez Mendo due to take place that day.
—Jessica Hopkins, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2026
The real twist here is a disadvantage because, in losing, Christian has to take an envelope back to camp and read its contents in front of his tribe mates.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2026
The former Joy Division and New Order bassist flatly ruled out any reunion with his ex-band mates, even for a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame honor.
—Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
Woodpeckers will also drum on your home and gutters to attract mates.
—Molly Burford, Southern Living, 22 Apr. 2026
Savannah Louie sat on a log, surrounded by tiki torches and silent camera crew members, holding hands with her cast-mates, one on either side.
—thehustle.co, 17 Apr. 2026
My mates and bandmates are all chosen accordingly.
—Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2026
Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2025
Noun
Watch the video above to see the gentoo penguins picking out the perfect pebble for their mates!
—Kelsey Monstrola, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
During this period, alligators tend to be more active and may travel outside their usual habitats in search of mates, sometimes showing up in neighborhoods, roadways and other unexpected places.
—Sergio Candido, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
The Colombian’s team-mates subsequently pulled out of the stage of the Vuelta Asturias Julio Alvarez Mendo due to take place that day.
—Jessica Hopkins, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2026
The real twist here is a disadvantage because, in losing, Christian has to take an envelope back to camp and read its contents in front of his tribe mates.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2026
The former Joy Division and New Order bassist flatly ruled out any reunion with his ex-band mates, even for a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame honor.
—Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
Woodpeckers will also drum on your home and gutters to attract mates.
—Molly Burford, Southern Living, 22 Apr. 2026
Savannah Louie sat on a log, surrounded by tiki torches and silent camera crew members, holding hands with her cast-mates, one on either side.
—thehustle.co, 17 Apr. 2026
My mates and bandmates are all chosen accordingly.
—Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2026
Verb
The centre-forward is increasingly aware of these situations, positioning himself correctly or attacking the right space to offer his team-mates an option when City are attacking the wide areas.
—Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mates
Noun
-
In Games 4 and 5, the Rockets controlled the second halves.—
Law Murray,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
-
To do so, simply sprinkle the cut surface of the avocado halves with lemon juice, put the halves back together, wrap the cut avocado in plastic wrap, and store in the refrigerator.—
Aly Walansky,
Southern Living,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
More than 30 people, including members and associates of four major Mafia crime families, Rozier, Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and ex-NBA player Damon Jones, have been implicated in the gambling scandal.—
Chloe Atkins,
NBC news,
1 May 2026
-
Today, Leonard and his associates seemed to have buried the hatchet.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Joined by four assistants with umbrellas and eyes on the train, Gaga and Maxwell walked by The Metropolitan Museum of Art with a wagon full of Champagne labeled Haus of Gaga behind them.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
1 May 2026
-
The ad called for the supervision of a team of graduate assistants or interns.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Actor Taye Diggs and partners Autumn Federici, Shelby Stone, James Black, and Troy Brookins on Thursday announced the launch of Microhouse Films, a mobile-first vertical storytelling platform putting distribution in the hands of filmmakers, which is set to launch this spring.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
30 Apr. 2026
-
That kind of support from community partners was always the intention of Measure H, said Hogeboom, who helped advocate for the measure.—
Maura Fox,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Mira’s first middle-school dance was coming up, and there was discussion among her friends about dresses and hair styles.—
Anna Wiener,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Other changes would require private guardians to attest to the court that their efforts to locate family or friends were exhausted prior to appointment.—
Christy Gutowski,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
From this room, a couple of steps lead up to another small loft that sleeps one, though in this case Backcountry Tiny Homes has added a small sofa bed and storage.—
Adam Williams
April 23,
New Atlas,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The rooms The island sleeps ten (exclusive buyouts are very much an option), with three bedrooms in the main house and one in the two-story boat house by the jetty.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Sally Field and Lewis Pullman play unlikely companions in a small seaside town, joined by a narrating octopus voiced by Alfred Molina.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
2 May 2026
-
These will be better companions.—
Helena Madden,
Martha Stewart,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
In a 2006 study, Redelmeier and his colleagues found that acronyms may improve a trial’s likelihood of being cited.—
Clarissa Brincat,
Big Think,
29 Apr. 2026
-
So many of my female colleagues are moms or moms-to-be, and there is comfort in being around other working women who are also building families.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mates. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
