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
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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
Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2026
Brown advised releasing ladybugs for the cliff swallows to feast on, and using speakers to broadcast the birds’ mating call.
—Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026
On average, humans tended to prefer the same mating calls that animals themselves did.
—Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 19 Mar. 2026
After mating, females lay groups of eggs in the soil near plants.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
Maas gave what amounts to one of the clearest explanations she’s offered on the mating bond system.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
The annual hummingbird migration brings the birds from the south up to their mating grounds in the north.
—Josh Kelly, Oklahoman, 27 Feb. 2026
The eagles were bonding and mating — all positive signs — but nothing was guaranteed.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
This year, with a bumper crop of the strange parrot’s favorite berries prompting a rare enthusiasm for mating, those working to save the birds hope for a record number of chicks in February, which would move the kakapo closer to defying what was not long ago believed to be certain extinction.
—ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026
Adam Harrington, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
Males die within months after mating while female giant Pacific octopuses lay tens of thousands of eggs and then enter senescence, caring and protecting the eggs until death.
—Los Angeles Times, 26 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
Frequent mate switching combined with low reproductive ‘skew’ and possibly the active avoidance of mating with close relatives, may be effective strategies to maintaining the genetic health of relatively small populations.
—New Atlas, 25 Jan. 2026
Hamsters are territorial, and females frequently kick the male out after mating.
—Noel Kirkpatrick, Treehugger, 20 Jan. 2026
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
Brown advised releasing ladybugs for the cliff swallows to feast on, and using speakers to broadcast the birds’ mating call.
—Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026
On average, humans tended to prefer the same mating calls that animals themselves did.
—Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 19 Mar. 2026
After mating, females lay groups of eggs in the soil near plants.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
Maas gave what amounts to one of the clearest explanations she’s offered on the mating bond system.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
The annual hummingbird migration brings the birds from the south up to their mating grounds in the north.
—Josh Kelly, Oklahoman, 27 Feb. 2026
The eagles were bonding and mating — all positive signs — but nothing was guaranteed.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
This year, with a bumper crop of the strange parrot’s favorite berries prompting a rare enthusiasm for mating, those working to save the birds hope for a record number of chicks in February, which would move the kakapo closer to defying what was not long ago believed to be certain extinction.
—ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026
Verb
The population of coyotes doubles in Cook County during mating and whelping season, research shows.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
Males die within months after mating while female giant Pacific octopuses lay tens of thousands of eggs and then enter senescence, caring and protecting the eggs until death.
—Los Angeles Times, 26 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
Frequent mate switching combined with low reproductive ‘skew’ and possibly the active avoidance of mating with close relatives, may be effective strategies to maintaining the genetic health of relatively small populations.
—New Atlas, 25 Jan. 2026
Hamsters are territorial, and females frequently kick the male out after mating.
—Noel Kirkpatrick, Treehugger, 20 Jan. 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
-
Despite her difficult start, Kaiko has since been recovering in her new home, with the viral video capturing a quiet but significant milestone—her first night sleeping indoors.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The suspect was stuck in the shoulder while a stray bullet grazed a sleeping 71-year-old in a near by home.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
With Tim, Martha hadn’t often come during intercourse.—
Cassandra Neyenesch,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
-
The bigger concern usually isn’t intercourse.—
Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt,
CNN Money,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Hop River Shepherds has been breeding Dutch and German Shepherds for over 25 years, with dozens of dogs successfully placed in sport, protection, service and active pet homes, according to Scott Beebe, owner and founder of the dog kennel.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Scythia’s plants are its animals, and vice versa, blooming and breeding in alternate generations.—
Stephanie Burt,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Trump called on more Middle Eastern countries to sign the Abraham Accords, an agreement his administration reached in its first term which saw Israel normalize relations with some Arab nations including the UAE and Bahrain.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Roger Sherman is a former partner at CRL Associates, a leading government relations, public affairs, and strategic communications firm in Denver.—
Roger Sherman,
Denver Post,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mating. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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