mutual

adjective

ˈmyü-chə-wəl How to pronounce mutual (audio)
Definition of mutualnext
as in collective
used or done by a number of people as a group every film is a mutual effort by the director, writer, actors, and a host of others

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mutual In August, Saudi Arabia signed a mutual-defense pact with Turkey and nuclear-armed Pakistan. — Fareed Zakaria, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026 The most refreshing aspect of their friendship is their mutual honesty. — Judy Berman, Time, 22 Oct. 2026 The university described the move as a mutual decision, ending Locksley's tenure after more than seven seasons. — Drew Aunkst, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026 The actors easily sell the idea that these characters are awash in the genuine pleasures of mutual respect and desire. — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mutual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mutual
  1. collective
  2. joint
  3. collaborative
  4. combined
  5. communal
Adjective
  • Gail Lerner, is fun and refreshing, speaking to a collective audience across generations.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 23 Oct. 2026
  • But the Dream’s offensive dominance would not have been possible without the team’s collective defense.
    — Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of collective
Adjective
  • Last Thursday, the European Union and Gulf states postponed ​a joint summit due to be held in the kingdom this week.
    — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Harry and Meghan, who remain private citizens and not working royals, made their first joint public appearance last week in Nottingham, visiting community organizations.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of joint
Adjective
  • The longer-term goal is to let a single fighter pilot direct multiple collaborative combat aircraft, though managing several autonomous wingmen will require further software development, testing, and operational procedures.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Drime also offers collaborative workspaces to organize files, clients, and projects.
    — StackCommerce Team, PC Magazine, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of collaborative
Adjective
  • That would make SpaceX the acquiring company in a stock swap, and potentially give Musk the best chance of controlling a combined entity.
    — Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Assuming a 30% takeover premium, SpaceX would pay nearly $2 trillion in stock, leaving Tesla’s shareholders with almost half the combined company.
    — Diane Brady, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of combined
Adjective
  • The Nordic communal goal is a focus on holistic well-being that can be sustained over the long term by every individual, from professional athletes in their prime to elders.
    — Lola Akinmade, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Librarian Regina Andrews, known for her salons, exudes the dignified air of a beloved host, vividly describing the communal groundswell every young thinker and creative then could sense happening.
    — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of communal

Browse Nearby Words

mutts
mutual
mutualism
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mutual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mutual. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of disparate

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All