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
Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
Bellingham looked sluggish and disconnected from his team-mates for most of the game.
—Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 10 May 2026
Our kind of tandem as battery-mates.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 8 May 2026
That begins with a reasonably effective prologue that depicts the fall of her childhood home, Edenia, and gives Kitana’s origin a more solid foundation than any of her cast mates.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 May 2026
Extraneous evening light can prevent the fireflies from communicating and finding mates.
—Eva Flowe
may 6, Charlotte Observer, 6 May 2026
Another term for that self-organization is stigmergy (stigma = mark + ergon = work), which emphasizes how working entities leave signs in their environment that influence what their swarm-mates do next.
—New Atlas, 1 May 2026
Marine Mammal Center After a period of intensive care and quarantine, along with some abnormal behavior that was later resolved, the sea lion began eating well with pen mates in a rehabilitation pool, the center said.
—Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
Their name derives from their ability to form strong, monogamous bonds with their mates, with pairs often sitting close together.
—Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2025
Noun
Vocalization is incredibly important to birds in spring as a way to attract mates and deter competitors.
—Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
Bellingham looked sluggish and disconnected from his team-mates for most of the game.
—Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 10 May 2026
Our kind of tandem as battery-mates.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 8 May 2026
That begins with a reasonably effective prologue that depicts the fall of her childhood home, Edenia, and gives Kitana’s origin a more solid foundation than any of her cast mates.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 May 2026
Extraneous evening light can prevent the fireflies from communicating and finding mates.
—Eva Flowe
may 6, Charlotte Observer, 6 May 2026
Another term for that self-organization is stigmergy (stigma = mark + ergon = work), which emphasizes how working entities leave signs in their environment that influence what their swarm-mates do next.
—New Atlas, 1 May 2026
Marine Mammal Center After a period of intensive care and quarantine, along with some abnormal behavior that was later resolved, the sea lion began eating well with pen mates in a rehabilitation pool, the center said.
—Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
Their name derives from their ability to form strong, monogamous bonds with their mates, with pairs often sitting close together.
—Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 30 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
-
Once the two halves are equipped and welded together, vacuum pumps will remove the air to create an environment similar to outer space, providing the structural support necessary to withstand external air pressure.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
15 May 2026
-
Spread more garlic mayo on the top halves of muffins and add to sandwiches.—
Jed Portman,
Midwest Living,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Indeed, as the 1980s wore on, the most profitable banks were those who could muster the largest number of associates to dream up deals, analysts to vet them, salespeople to win new business, and traders to buy and sell securities.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 May 2026
-
Weeks earlier, in late May of 2022, Lago and several associates had purchased a storefront directly across the street and then leased it to Location Ventures as a future sales center for roughly $12,400 a month.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Brown recalled LeBron scoring roughly 24 straight points, and when the Pistons called a timeout, one of Brown’s assistants suggested the head coach take control of a huddle LeBron had in command.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
16 May 2026
-
The Steelers also hired a number of former Green Bay assistants, including offensive line coach James Campen, who has a strong relationship with Rodgers.—
Mike DeFabo,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
This story inspired Wong Kar-wai to do In the Mood for Love, about another pair of people who have a special relationship and who try to understand why their partners are having affairs with each other.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
14 May 2026
-
It will be sold at all 26 LoveShackFancy stores, its e-commerce site, and at select wholesale partners.—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
The former congressman Denny Heck, of Washington State, who was elected the same year as Jeffries, became one of his earliest friends on Capitol Hill.—
Jason Zengerle,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
Active families, newlyweds, solo travelers, fit friends, long-together couples, locals meeting for drinks—there’s a lovely mix of guests staying at (and just visiting) the property.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
With its iconic buildings, excellent shopping, and decadent dining, there’s no shortage of things to do in the city that never sleeps.—
Jamie Spain,
Condé Nast Traveler,
13 May 2026
-
Filming has begun on the third installment of the A Quiet Place franchise in the city that never sleeps.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
After the boat’s motor cut out, and a particularly large wave crashed over the side, the survivor, Amy Friduss, put on a lifejacket and handed others out to her nine companions in the boat.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
14 May 2026
-
Scientists have discovered something about suckerfish that might make their underwater companions want to hide.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
People showed up the following morning for their sessions, but he and his colleagues were forced to turn them away.—
Annie Hylton,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
-
Guests rub shoulders with neighborhood executives looking for an express lunch with colleagues at Il Cittadino.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mates. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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