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
Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 24 May 2026
The onset of mating season this spring has escalated tensions, with the males’ loud early morning mating calls particularly aggravating residents.
—Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 14 May 2026
And Jack Brand, an aquatic ecologist at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, wanted to know how illicit drugs like cocaine might change fish behavior, like foraging and mating.
—Regina G. Barber, NPR, 12 May 2026
In a new study, researchers documented seven cases of remoras, a fish known for suctioning itself onto rays—as well as sharks, dolphins, boats and even divers—plunging into manta rays' cloacal orifice, an opening used for pooping, peeing and mating.
—Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 11 May 2026
Mating season generally begins in May, with peak mating in June.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 30 Apr. 2026
Hazina’s father, Utenzi, came to Lincoln Park as part of the Eastern Black Rhinoceros Species Survival Plan, a program where scientists determine ideal mating partners for endangered rhinos based on various genetic and hormonal factors, Kutilek said.
—Audrey Pachuta, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, alligator courtship begins in early April, with mating typically occurring in May and June.
—Sergio Candido, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026
The males will sometimes pursue the females for up to one week before mating even occurs.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 30 Apr. 2026
Nature’s drones are male bees that build the walls and octagonal cells of the hive and die after mating.
—Horace D. Ballard, Artforum, 22 Apr. 2026
Signs warned, caution deers mating.
—Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
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
Sensory receptors act as evolutionary hotspots that can either preserve recognition among members of the same species, or limit interspecies mating, playing a foundational role in Earth’s biodiversity.
—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
Noun
Researchers from the University of Hawaii have also found that Olowalu in particular is a mating hub for tiger sharks, according to Hawaii News Now.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 24 May 2026
The onset of mating season this spring has escalated tensions, with the males’ loud early morning mating calls particularly aggravating residents.
—Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 14 May 2026
And Jack Brand, an aquatic ecologist at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, wanted to know how illicit drugs like cocaine might change fish behavior, like foraging and mating.
—Regina G. Barber, NPR, 12 May 2026
In a new study, researchers documented seven cases of remoras, a fish known for suctioning itself onto rays—as well as sharks, dolphins, boats and even divers—plunging into manta rays' cloacal orifice, an opening used for pooping, peeing and mating.
—Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 11 May 2026
Mating season generally begins in May, with peak mating in June.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 30 Apr. 2026
Hazina’s father, Utenzi, came to Lincoln Park as part of the Eastern Black Rhinoceros Species Survival Plan, a program where scientists determine ideal mating partners for endangered rhinos based on various genetic and hormonal factors, Kutilek said.
—Audrey Pachuta, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, alligator courtship begins in early April, with mating typically occurring in May and June.
—Sergio Candido, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
For the first time in 200 years, red-and-green macaws are mating in the Atlantic Forest in Brazil, according to BBC Wildlife.
—Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026
The males will sometimes pursue the females for up to one week before mating even occurs.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 30 Apr. 2026
Nature’s drones are male bees that build the walls and octagonal cells of the hive and die after mating.
—Horace D. Ballard, Artforum, 22 Apr. 2026
Signs warned, caution deers mating.
—Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
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
Sensory receptors act as evolutionary hotspots that can either preserve recognition among members of the same species, or limit interspecies mating, playing a foundational role in Earth’s biodiversity.
—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
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
-
As the city’s cleaning and removal programs have reduced prominent encampments on Hollywood’s streets, the number of people sleeping rough is on the rise.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 May 2026
-
The premiere episode features an enticing premise, where Josh gets dumped for sleeping too long post-hibernation.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
However, soy isoflavones didn’t appear to provide significant overall benefits for painful intercourse, hot flashes, night sweats, and psychological symptoms.—
Sarah Garone,
Health,
22 May 2026
-
Your Sex Drive in Your 60s and Beyond Close to 50% of women over the age of 60 suffer from vaginal dryness, decreased vaginal lubrication, pain during intercourse and trouble, or inability, to reach an orgasm.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Flow Space,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
In 1985, a breeding population of the black-and-white Aedes albopictus mosquito hitched a ride on a Japanese tire shipment bound for Texas.—
Ross Andersen,
The Atlantic,
27 May 2026
-
By ignoring how selection pressures work, the fishing industry has ended up breeding its future generations primarily from smaller fish with less reproductive ability.—
Owen D. Jones,
The Conversation,
26 May 2026
Noun
-
Mehdi Taj, president of the Iran Football Federation, announced the decision Saturday in a statement released by the federation’s media relations office.—
Chantz Martin OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
24 May 2026
-
The club permitted various non-Jewish groups to use its meeting halls, which enhanced relations between the communities.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mating. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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