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
Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 16 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
Integration time with new team-mates, however, was limited.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
The battle between district mates Birdville and Denton for the 5A Division I Region I title might be the highest-profile game in the Dallas area.
—Myah Taylor, Dallas Morning News, 5 Mar. 2026
There’s true-true mates, and there’s nature made a mistake.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2026
Being mates doesn’t guarantee compatibility or love.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
And while the lifestyle of a full-time sport fisherman isn’t for everyone—pre-dawn mornings and long days on the water—the captains and mates of the Outer Banks’ charter fleets ensure that fishing is for everyone.
—Brian Higgins, Outside, 2 Mar. 2026
Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2025
Noun
That way, their songs can be carried farther to potential mates, without the noisy interruption of a howling wind.
—Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 16 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
Integration time with new team-mates, however, was limited.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
The battle between district mates Birdville and Denton for the 5A Division I Region I title might be the highest-profile game in the Dallas area.
—Myah Taylor, Dallas Morning News, 5 Mar. 2026
There’s true-true mates, and there’s nature made a mistake.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2026
Being mates doesn’t guarantee compatibility or love.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
And while the lifestyle of a full-time sport fisherman isn’t for everyone—pre-dawn mornings and long days on the water—the captains and mates of the Outer Banks’ charter fleets ensure that fishing is for everyone.
—Brian Higgins, Outside, 2 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
-
Thanks to the relentless work of the Philadelphia Police Department and our federal partners, this violent crew has been dismantled and held accountable.—
Tom Ignudo,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Aligning these assets with capable and motivated partners will benefit both drug developers and patients — and matching them carefully with capable entrepreneurial stakeholders could benefit both patients and investors.—
Annette Bakker,
Fortune,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Your steady nature sets a calm pace, so friends feel safe bringing ideas, and the plan grows at a sustainable rhythm.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Residents in houses gathered on rooftops and hung out of windows, with one girl with her leg outside tossing beers down from the second story to her friends on the porch.—
Grace Zokovitch,
Boston Herald,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Kristin Barker lives on the North Side in a home that sleeps 14 people and she's also listed the property as a rental.—
John Shumway,
CBS News,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Poor sleep affects everyone Ninety-five percent of all caregivers agreed that good sleep is essential to overall family function, and nearly 80% said their own sleep suffers when their child sleeps poorly, the poll found.—
Lily Hautau,
CNN Money,
5 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
-
Liberal Democrat lawmaker Liam McArthur, who drew up the Scottish bill, had urged colleagues to back it.—
JILL LAWLESS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Talarico has criticized his Republican colleagues in the Texas state legislature for allegedly being in the pockets of the petroleum industry.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mates. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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