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
Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2026
In addition to touring with BLACKPINK last year and joining ROSÉ, JENNIE and Jisoo on the quartet’s Deadline world tour, LISA got in the studio with her mates for last month’s Deadline EP.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 30 Mar. 2026
Such clarity of thought was mirrored in performances of attacking team-mates, including Watkins and Rogers, who have surely benefited from their captain’s return.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
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
Animals do all sorts of things to attract each other as potential mates.
—Logan S. James, The Conversation, 19 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
This time of year is also a key period for feeding and mating, meaning snakes are actively searching for food like rodents and frogs, as well as potential mates.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2026
In addition to touring with BLACKPINK last year and joining ROSÉ, JENNIE and Jisoo on the quartet’s Deadline world tour, LISA got in the studio with her mates for last month’s Deadline EP.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 30 Mar. 2026
Such clarity of thought was mirrored in performances of attacking team-mates, including Watkins and Rogers, who have surely benefited from their captain’s return.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
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
Animals do all sorts of things to attract each other as potential mates.
—Logan S. James, The Conversation, 19 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
-
And this is certainly not the sort of outfit that does anything by halves—the four-floor spa is one of the city’s finest.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Indiana responded with one of the most dominant halves in NCAA Tournament history, outscoring the Wolverines 57-33 to rally for an 86-68 victory in Philadelphia.—
Michael Marot,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Bondi was slated to appear before the committee on April 14 after the committee issued a subpoena for her testimony over the Department of Justice’s handling of the Epstein files amid mounting frustration over how the department managed and released materials tied to Epstein and his associates.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Maxwell told Blanche during the two-day interview there was no client list, no blackmail scheme and, to her knowledge, no high-profile Epstein associates who committed illicit acts in connection with his crimes.—
Ivan Pereira,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Undeterred, Staley kept at Auriemma until she, too, was steered away by her assistants.—
Lori Riley,
Hartford Courant,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The 72-year-old coach walked toward Staley in the final seconds of the game before the two had an angry exchange, with assistants having to get in between them.—
David Brandt,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Collective processes involve tiring negotiations, frequent conflicts, and disappointing compromises, both internally among the team and with external interlocutors and partners.—
Adam Szymczyk,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The idea comes from men’s relationship coach and motivational speaker Alessandro Frosali, who compared some low-maintenance partners to, well, plastic bags in a viral video.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Senor and Stephens are neoconservatives who hardly needed to be convinced that the members of progressive movements were not friends of the Jewish people.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The first version of the app was in 2012, and the company was officially formed in 2017 with just two friends.—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
For anyone who works night shifts, has young children who nap during the day or simply sleeps better in a completely dark room, blackout curtains can make a meaningful difference.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Other traditional bean companions, such as petunias or garlic, may yet be proven effective in future studies.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
3 Apr. 2026
-
She is thrust into an extraordinary journey that will take her all the way to the surface, accompanied by her colorful, loyal and unlikely companions.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
After more than 11 years with the Golden Police Department, Chief Joe Harvey was honored by colleagues, friends and family for his service and compassion.—
Karen Morfitt,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Vulnerable, voiceless elders in Miami-Dade who are removed from their homes for their own good will likely wind up in the hands of an Adult Protective Services supervisor promoted to a position of unparalleled power despite the objections of family members and whistleblowing colleagues.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mates. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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