as in sex
sexual union involving penetration of the vagina by the penis
if the mare doesn't get pregnant from this mating, you don't have to pay for the second try
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in sleeping
to engage in sexual intercourse
cats conceive almost every time they mate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mating
Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2026
Bighorn sheep are known for their headbutting battles, often clashing for dominance and mating rights.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
Some woodcock lovers describe it as a mating dance, but scientists who study them have different theories.
—ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026
Given the data — a more than threefold difference in birth rates between natural mating and artificial insemination — so would the science.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2026
In the spring this is the mating call.
—Bruce Brady, Outdoor Life, 8 Apr. 2026
If so, this mating strategy could help keep species separate and potentially give rise to new ones.
—Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 2 Apr. 2026
Assessing the selectivity in octopuses’ mating is also rather tricky.
—Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 2 Apr. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
But these flourishes don’t seem essential for mating.
—Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 2 Apr. 2026
Love in the dark The deep ocean is a challenging place to find a partner, especially since octopuses are solitary animals that wander the seafloor alone, mating only during highly infrequent encounters.
—Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 2 Apr. 2026
The population of coyotes doubles in Cook County during mating and whelping season, research shows.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
The most likely explanation for this mirror image pattern is mating behavior.
—ABC News, 26 Feb. 2026
His team found an association between a symbol that looks like the letter Y and the time at which the animals depicted on the object gave birth, as well as a link between an X and the time of year the animals were seen mating.
—Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 25 Feb. 2026
February is mating season for the four-legged canines, which can lead to sightings in even the most urban parts of Central Indiana.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 17 Feb. 2026
By the Middle Ages, people in France and England believed birds began mating around that time of year, reinforcing the connection to romance.
—Katey Psencik, Austin American Statesman, 14 Feb. 2026
Noun
The insects gather early in the morning as part of a mating swarm.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2026
Bighorn sheep are known for their headbutting battles, often clashing for dominance and mating rights.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
Some woodcock lovers describe it as a mating dance, but scientists who study them have different theories.
—ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026
Given the data — a more than threefold difference in birth rates between natural mating and artificial insemination — so would the science.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2026
In the spring this is the mating call.
—Bruce Brady, Outdoor Life, 8 Apr. 2026
If so, this mating strategy could help keep species separate and potentially give rise to new ones.
—Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 2 Apr. 2026
Assessing the selectivity in octopuses’ mating is also rather tricky.
—Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
The cam has followed Jackie and Shadow, who have been mating since 2018, and made the birds worldwide celebrities and regular fixtures of morning TV shows.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
But these flourishes don’t seem essential for mating.
—Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 2 Apr. 2026
Love in the dark The deep ocean is a challenging place to find a partner, especially since octopuses are solitary animals that wander the seafloor alone, mating only during highly infrequent encounters.
—Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 2 Apr. 2026
The population of coyotes doubles in Cook County during mating and whelping season, research shows.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
The most likely explanation for this mirror image pattern is mating behavior.
—ABC News, 26 Feb. 2026
His team found an association between a symbol that looks like the letter Y and the time at which the animals depicted on the object gave birth, as well as a link between an X and the time of year the animals were seen mating.
—Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 25 Feb. 2026
February is mating season for the four-legged canines, which can lead to sightings in even the most urban parts of Central Indiana.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 17 Feb. 2026
By the Middle Ages, people in France and England believed birds began mating around that time of year, reinforcing the connection to romance.
—Katey Psencik, Austin American Statesman, 14 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mating
Noun
-
The findings, from 1,592 U.S. citizens of different ages, sexes, races and incomes, were collected between Dec. 20 and Dec. 22.—
Nicholas Rice,
PEOPLE,
28 Dec. 2025
-
On his first day in office, Mr. Trump signed an executive order that declared the federal government would recognize only two immutable sexes: male and female.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
18 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Not being at the age of viability, and because of the trauma of contractions and delivery on her small body, she was born sleeping.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
13 Apr. 2026
-
In 2023, she was named a Fulbright Scholar, which enabled her to spend a year in Korea, sleeping, eating, recreating, working and, along the way, turning her abstract memories of living there into something more concrete and direct (and sometimes overwhelming).—
Ray Mark Rinaldi,
Denver Post,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Common symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection include irritation, swelling and a thick white discharge, along with a burning sensation – especially during urination or intercourse.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Wilzig told the Miami Herald in a 2002 profile that intercourse and naked bodies were beautiful and natural, and no one should be embarrassed by talking about the topic.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Giant pandas reach adulthood and begin breeding between ages 5 and 7, with females maturing faster than males.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Penguins that are not breeding can stay in the water for more than 150 hours at a time.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Negotiations between Israel and Lebanon are expected to begin Tuesday in Washington, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s office has said, after Israel's surprise announcement authorizing talks despite the countries lack of official relations.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Israel and Lebanon will have direct negotiations Negotiations between Israel and Lebanon are expected to begin Tuesday in Washington, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s office said Friday, after Israel’s surprise announcement authorizing talks despite the countries lack of official relations.—
Munir Ahmed,
Fortune,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mating. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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