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

Relevance

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sex
  1. intercourse
  2. mating
  3. relations
  4. sexuality
Noun
  • The two counts of rape Høiby was convicted of did not involve intercourse.
    — Gwladys Fouche, USA Today, 15 June 2026
  • 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
Definition of intercourse
Noun
  • In any number of species—elephant seals, red deer, rattlesnakes—the privilege of mating is settled by a fight.
    — Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 22 June 2026
  • Both food and mating motivate humpback journeys in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 19 June 2026
Definition of mating
Noun
  • Strategic thinking, understanding situations, client relations and accountability cannot be transferred to an algorithm.
    — Tyler Dykstra, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
  • The former congresswoman expressed interest in starting a new political party after her public split from the Republican Party over the handling of the Epstein files and relations with Israel.
    — Sydney Topf, The Washington Examiner, 7 July 2026
Definition of relations
Noun
  • Motherhood, sexuality, family, fame… every band member forges her own path in refreshingly disparate ways rarely shown on television.
    — Sara Netzley, Entertainment Weekly, 2 July 2026
  • Castro again works with cinematographer Barton Cortright to craft lush images that certainly evoke the illusion of celluloid, lending the movie a nostalgic, charmingly retro take on sexuality and an idyllic view of open-air cruising.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 30 June 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
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sex.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sex. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on sex

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sex

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gambol

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

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

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
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
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All