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
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Recent Examples of mates
Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2026
The matchmaking group sends her different pictures and descriptions of potential mates.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 9 Apr. 2026
The little lightning bugs blink in unison while searching for mates.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2026
Then one faction began killing their former group mates on the other side, researchers write today in the journal Science.
—Jason P. Dinh, Scientific American, 9 Apr. 2026
Kate Hudson wore a pair of itty-bitty leather shorts while on the press tour for season 2 of Running Point with her cast mates.
—Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 9 Apr. 2026
His team-mates were shocked too.
—Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Chisolm and her group mates have spoken openly in the past about being cut out of the financial success of their music.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 8 Apr. 2026
Some toms, like some men, want talkative mates while others prefer as little talk as possible.
—Bruce Brady, Outdoor Life, 8 Apr. 2026
Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2025
Noun
My mates and bandmates are all chosen accordingly.
—Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2026
The matchmaking group sends her different pictures and descriptions of potential mates.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 9 Apr. 2026
The little lightning bugs blink in unison while searching for mates.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2026
Then one faction began killing their former group mates on the other side, researchers write today in the journal Science.
—Jason P. Dinh, Scientific American, 9 Apr. 2026
Kate Hudson wore a pair of itty-bitty leather shorts while on the press tour for season 2 of Running Point with her cast mates.
—Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 9 Apr. 2026
His team-mates were shocked too.
—Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Chisolm and her group mates have spoken openly in the past about being cut out of the financial success of their music.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 8 Apr. 2026
Some toms, like some men, want talkative mates while others prefer as little talk as possible.
—Bruce Brady, Outdoor Life, 8 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
-
My own life does not feel like one continuous thing but, rather, two distinct halves that belong to two very different people.—
Cressida Leyshon,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
-
After not allowing a single goal in the entire playoffs, the Mustangs forfeited a pair of goals in a three-minute span of the first and second halves.—
Charles Baggarly & Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But once the tech is in place, dealership owners are going to be all about robot sales associates.—
Andrew P. Collins,
The Drive,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The stores are expected to create job opportunities for around 150 associates each.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Wall Group negotiates all these deals with cosmetics ambassadorships, hair product lines, top luxury brands like Hermès, Louis Vuitton and Prada, all while monitoring the work of stylists’ assistants to see who’s ready to ascend the ladder.—
Merle Ginsberg,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Meanwhile, Service Employees International Union Local 99, which represents roughly 30,000 support staff, including bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers and special education assistants, met with the district Thursday for a mediation session.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is aiming to persuade Chinese companies to share more tech know-how with their Spanish partners on a trip to Beijing next week, according to people familiar with the preparations.—
Daniel Basteiro,
Bloomberg,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Such implications could have a chilling effect on the reporting of such crimes by partners and spouses locked into messy and tumultuous relationships.—
Sal Rodriguez,
Oc Register,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Wow friends and family with this portable snack hack.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Jennifer Aniston’s Instagram never disappoints, often including adorable dogs, friends (sometimes THE Friends), and enviable hair to boot.—
Claire West,
PEOPLE,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
There are seven room types, including a sprawling executive suite and a large family room that sleeps three people.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
-
When someone with sleep apnea sleeps on their back, there’s a risk of their airways collapsing, which can impede their ability to breathe, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.—
Caroline C. Boyle,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
While this makes alliums great companions for most vegetables and herbs, asparagus and alliums just don’t mix.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Implications for humans What should humans take away from episodes in which their closest genetic relatives turn on their companions?—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Their decisions came the day before the House returned to Washington and as both faced the prospect of being expelled from the chamber by their colleagues.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
California Attorney General Rob Bonta and his colleagues in other states are reportedly scrutinizing the merger and considering legal action to block it.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mates. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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