sex

noun

ˈseks How to pronounce sex (audio)
Definition of sexnext
as in intercourse
sexual union involving penetration of the vagina by the penis the students learned about the mechanics of sex and reproduction in health class

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sex
  1. mating
  2. relations
  3. sexuality
Noun
  • The famed Big 5 (elephants, buffalos, leopards, rhinos, and lions) are all easily spotted in these lands, but the diverse habitats provide opportunities for different behavioral sightings, from feeding to bathing and mating.
    — Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Aug. 2026
  • For the past eight years, that's when Jackie and Shadow have begun reinforcing their nest and mating.
    — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of mating
Noun
  • Treated almost as living beings themselves, many of the artworks in the LACMA installation take up animate relations to one another.
    — George Baker, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Israel has seen its own relations with Turkey deteriorate during Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s more than two-decade rule.
    — Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of relations
Noun
  • And something has truly changed in the way that younger generations view race and sexuality specifically.
    — Charles Finch, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
  • More broadly, the department has launched similar investigations into other schools’ gender and sexuality policies, including recent investigations in Maryland and Michigan.
    — Kate Perez, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of sexuality
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.

Phrases Containing sex

Browse Nearby Words

sew up
sex
sex act
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Cite this Entry

“Sex.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sex. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sex

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sex

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