as in mutualistic
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Recent Examples of commensal
This represents a prey pathway in the domestication process in addition to a commensal one.
—
Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 June 2025
This process called a commensal pathway in animal domestication occurs when the animal is attracted to human settlements, instead of humans actively trying to recruit the animals.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 June 2025
According to some biologists, this might show that these birds are on their way to becoming commensal with humans—benefiting from living closely alongside them—like pigeons have in urban areas.
—Jorge Garay, Wired News, 29 May 2025
Dreamtime by Simon Theuma This small, commensal shrimp almost appears to be swimming over a tapestry, but in reality, the technicolor backdrop is the body of a mosaic sea star.
—Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Jan. 2024
Science defines the rat’s relationship to humans as commensal: an association between two species in which one benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed.
—WIRED, 7 Oct. 2023
In fact, it’s become clear that many of these commensal bacteria use the glycans studding mucin molecules as a primary source of energy.
—Diana Kwon, Discover Magazine, 9 July 2019
In commensal domestication, however, humans unintentionally create an environment that attracts the animal.
—Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2016
These samples serve as powerful investigative tools in our pursuit to understand how certain commensal microbes can cause or serve as diagnostic readouts.
—Anthony Martin, Discover Magazine, 26 Apr. 2016
Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 June 2025
This process called a commensal pathway in animal domestication occurs when the animal is attracted to human settlements, instead of humans actively trying to recruit the animals.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 June 2025
According to some biologists, this might show that these birds are on their way to becoming commensal with humans—benefiting from living closely alongside them—like pigeons have in urban areas.
—Jorge Garay, Wired News, 29 May 2025
Dreamtime by Simon Theuma This small, commensal shrimp almost appears to be swimming over a tapestry, but in reality, the technicolor backdrop is the body of a mosaic sea star.
—Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Jan. 2024
Science defines the rat’s relationship to humans as commensal: an association between two species in which one benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed.
—WIRED, 7 Oct. 2023
In fact, it’s become clear that many of these commensal bacteria use the glycans studding mucin molecules as a primary source of energy.
—Diana Kwon, Discover Magazine, 9 July 2019
In commensal domestication, however, humans unintentionally create an environment that attracts the animal.
—Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2016
These samples serve as powerful investigative tools in our pursuit to understand how certain commensal microbes can cause or serve as diagnostic readouts.
—Anthony Martin, Discover Magazine, 26 Apr. 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commensal
Adjective
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Yet in other ways, his hiring followed a familiar pattern, reflecting the symbiotic relationships that have long defined the industry.—
Eben Novy-Williams,
Sportico.com,
29 July 2025
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The director’s philosophical approach to the project draws from observations of nature, particularly how rainforests sustain themselves through symbiotic relationships.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
28 July 2025
Adjective
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Just nine days earlier, on July 22, the administration had pushed through a controversial law making the country’s anti-corruption agencies dependent on the General Prosecutor, a direct presidential appointee.—
Katya Soldak,
Forbes.com,
31 July 2025
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Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage.—
Kirby Adams,
The Courier-Journal,
30 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Commensal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commensal. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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