as in sex
sexual union involving penetration of the vagina by the penis
our Puritan forebears imposed severe penalties for copulating outside of marriage
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in sleeping
to engage in sexual intercourse
the time of year when deer in the wild are likely to copulate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of copulating
Jack Guy, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
After copulating, the two males lay immobile on the seafloor as the female swam away.
—Jack Guy, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for copulating
Noun
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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
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Cruise operators also generally try to cross the roughest waters while guests are sleeping.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The bedrooms retain the traditional alcova layout, a shallow, arched niche historically used for sleeping.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Many mammals exhibit dominance hierarchies; forms of inequality in which stronger individuals use strength, aggression and allies to get better access to food or mating opportunities.—
Thomas Morgan,
The Conversation,
3 Feb. 2026
-
The females give birth to nymphs without mating, and these nymphs rapidly mature into adults (in about 10 days).—
Jon VanZile,
The Spruce,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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On top of that, one of Colvin’s classmates, Jeremiah Reeves, had recently been arrested for having intercourse with a white woman.—
Essence,
Essence,
15 Jan. 2026
-
British prosecutors said Johnston used threats and intimidation to force the woman into having intercourse with the men, per the outlet.—
Sean Neumann,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
State Assemblymember Jessica Caloza (D-Los Angeles) said Home Depot’s head of government relations and affairs called her late Thursday night and said the labor center would be served with an eviction notice.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
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The link was suspended in 2021 as relations grew increasingly strained before Russia sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022.—
VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV,
Arkansas Online,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Copulating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/copulating. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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