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.
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Recent Examples of mates
Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 23 Mar. 2026
The design is based on the silkworm moth, which can still find mates using pheromones even after losing one antenna.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 23 Mar. 2026
The matchmaking group sends her different pictures and descriptions of potential mates.
—Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2026
In each pair, the sounds are used to attract potential mates; scientists had already found which of the two versions that animals tended to prefer.
—Logan S. James, The Conversation, 19 Mar. 2026
But the 27-year-old has never received the same plaudits as other Madrid midfielders, including former team-mates Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.
—The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2026
Sporting Kansas City, who had only one point from its first three games, went into halftime ahead on Dejan Joveljić’s goal against his former mates for a 1-0 lead.
—Damian Calhoun, Daily News, 15 Mar. 2026
Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2025
Noun
Eovaldi, with 14 years in the big leagues, picked the brains of a Hall of Fame wing of rotation mates.
—Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 23 Mar. 2026
The design is based on the silkworm moth, which can still find mates using pheromones even after losing one antenna.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 23 Mar. 2026
The matchmaking group sends her different pictures and descriptions of potential mates.
—Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2026
In each pair, the sounds are used to attract potential mates; scientists had already found which of the two versions that animals tended to prefer.
—Logan S. James, The Conversation, 19 Mar. 2026
But the 27-year-old has never received the same plaudits as other Madrid midfielders, including former team-mates Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.
—The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2026
Sporting Kansas City, who had only one point from its first three games, went into halftime ahead on Dejan Joveljić’s goal against his former mates for a 1-0 lead.
—Damian Calhoun, Daily News, 15 Mar. 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
-
Duke entered the bonus with over 10 minutes remaining in the first and second halves and shot 23 free throws compared to 10 for the Horned Frogs.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Oklahoma played one of its most efficient halves of the season to go up 57-35 at the break.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In Colombia, there have been multiple investigations into Petro's closest associates.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Investigators identified Carrillo and his associates as part of a drug trafficking operation responsible for manufacturing and distributing methamphetamine in Calaveras County.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
There are photographers and lighting assistants and makeup artists, with each set of professionals clustered around the couple.—
Peter Hessler,
New Yorker,
21 Mar. 2026
-
The week of the recording, the church was beset with production assistants, security, Netflix employees and cases of AV equipment.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
These achievements are linked to the longstanding work between the county, local providers and community partners, officials say.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Israel will be treading over familiar ground in southern Lebanon, enjoys intelligence superiority, operational superiority, and has the backing of partners in Lebanon.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Deputies said the man was visiting the river with friends and was not from the area.—
Brandon Downs,
CBS News,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Your problems are valid, and true friends will want to know and want to help.—
Eric Thomas,
Sun Sentinel,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The city that never sleeps spends a lot of its waking hours eating.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
22 Mar. 2026
-
The compound includes a guest bunkhouse, which sleeps six; a luxury guest bunkhouse, sleeping two; a separate cigar bar with power and a wood-burning fireplace; and a covered 1974 Silver Streak vintage mobile home that is electric-powered and sleeps three to four.—
David Caraccio
March 21,
Sacbee.com,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The character has the potential to become one of the most beloved sci-fi companions in recent memory.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Bruce Dern plays their caretaker, a man who refuses the order to destroy them and is left alone on the ship, tending the plants and teaching his small drone companions to help him.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The director of aviation, Haley Gentry, makes the most compared to her department colleagues.—
Caitlin McGlade,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
-
He’s still based at Salt Lake City International, where his 20-year-old daughter works as a TSA agent, and says that seeing his former colleagues struggling is difficult.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mates. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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