Synonyms of associates

associates 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of associate

1

as in travels

to come or be together as friends

a socially ambitious couple who joined the country club in order to associate with the right sort of people

Synonyms & Similar Words

• travels
• bonds
• collaborates
• companies
• connects
• joins
• runs
• friends
• mixes
• relates
• sorts
• chums
• consorts
• mingles
• allies
• befriends
• affiliates
• cooperates
• fraternizes
• hooks up
• groups
• rubs shoulders (with)
• hangs (around or out)
• takes up with
• falls in with
• teams
• pals (around)
• keeps company (with)
• ties
• rubs elbows (with)
• clubs
• consociates
• couples
• gangs
• hobnobs
• links
• sides
• messes around
• rallies
• socializes
• is friends with
• interrelates
• colludes
• bands
• confederates
• gets on
• gets along
• attaches
• conjoins
• leagues
• knots
• weds

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• avoids
• shuns
• alienates
• snubs
• estranges
• cold-shoulders
• splits (up)
• breaks up
• disperses
• splits
• dissociates
• disbands
• severs
• divorces
• disjoins
• sunders
• disunites

2

as in identifies

to think of (something) in combination

she still associates Memorial Day with her long-ago fiancé, who died in Vietnam

Synonyms & Similar Words

• identifies
• correlates
• connects
• links
• equates
• relates
• compares
• groups
• ties (together)
• joins
• likens
• lumps (together)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• contrasts
• distinguishes
• separates
• differentiates
• sets off
• discriminates

3

as in combines

to come together to form a single unit

the elements hydrogen and oxygen associate to form molecules of water

Synonyms & Similar Words

• combines
• connects
• fuses
• couples
• joins
• unites
• allies
• unifies
• mates
• links (up)
• conjugates
• coalesces
• conjoins
• marries
• interfuses
• chains
• confederates
• compounds
• yokes
• clusters
• leagues
• splices
• rejoins
• assembles
• reunites
• reconnects
• convenes
• constellates
• hooks
• hitches
• meets
• recombines
• congregates
• gathers
• reunifies

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• parts
• sections
• splits
• separates
• severs
• breaks up
• isolates
• sunders
• resolves
• disconnects
• divides
• dissociates
• dissevers
• divorces
• unlinks
• detaches
• uncouples
• disjoins
• fractionates
• disunites
• disperses
• unyokes
• disjoints
• scatters
• disbands
• disaffiliates

4

as in cooperates

to form or enter into an association that furthers the interests of its members

nations deciding to associate in order to remove trade barriers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cooperates
• allies
• unites
• collaborates
• federates
• clubs
• confederates
• merges
• affiliates
• pulls together
• organizes
• groups
• coalesces
• leagues
• bands (together)
• coheres
• closes ranks
• joins
• conjoins
• consolidates
• hangs together
• converges
• teams (up)
• links
• incorporates
• amalgamates
• unionizes
• ties
• gangs up
• combines
• cabals
• conglomerates
• knots
• weds

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• parts
• breaks up
• disbands
• splits
• dissolves
• separates
• segregates
• severs
• divorces
• disengages
• detaches
• falls out
• alienates
• estranges
• sunders
• disunites

5

as in mixes

to take part in social activities

you should try to associate with people your own age

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mixes
• mingles
• socializes
• parties
• goes out
• rubs elbows
• fraternizes
• steps out
• revels
• hobnobs
• carouses
• circulates

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• avoids
• shuns
• eschews
• snubs
• slights

associates

2 of 2

noun

plural of associate

1

as in colleagues

a person frequently seen in the company of another

a number of his associates were members of organized crime, so he was a person of interest to the FBI

Synonyms & Similar Words

• colleagues
• friends
• peers
• buddies
• accomplices
• cohorts
• companions
• comrades
• fellows
• classmates
• partners
• compatriots
• compeers
• cronies
• teammates
• mates
• collaborators
• allies
• coworkers
• running mates
• affiliates
• hobnobbers
• pals
• workmates
• confidants
• intimates
• chums
• equals
• confederates
• countrymen
• familiars
• playmates
• shipmates
• halves
• schoolmates
• roommates
• attendants
• housemates
• messmates
• parasites
• escorts
• leeches
• playfellows
• hangers-on
• hearties

2

as in coworkers

a fellow worker

my associates at the office

Synonyms & Similar Words

• colleagues
• coworkers
• peers
• partners
• buddies
• confreres
• allies
• collaborators
• accomplices
• fellows
• equals
• cohorts
• pals
• comrades
• companions
• copartners
• confederates
• halves
• countrymen
• compatriots
• chums
• cronies

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of associates

Verb

The Shiji associates Sun Tzu with Wu’s campaigns against its powerful rival Chu, including the campaign that culminated in the capture of the Chu capital, Ying, in 506 bce. — Ethan Teekah, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Sep. 2026

What being Southern meant to his father—and the values Duane associates with being a Southern gentleman. — Sid Evans, Southern Living, 11 Aug. 2026

The productivity boom everyone associates with the personal computer didn’t actually show up in the macro data until 15 years after the PC was commercialized. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 14 July 2026

The two-time Oscar winner, who was born in Concord and grew up in the East Bay, associates that sign with some of his favorite Bay Area childhood memories. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 15 June 2026

The third vessel, for example, contains circular discs symbolizing water, which Chan associates with rebirth. — Anthony Demarco, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026

In practical terms, that means Forest now associates humans with food and safety, the opposite of what a wild deer needs to survive. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 28 Apr. 2026

Greene’s heart-to-heart media tour has been jarring liberals and anyone else who associates her with conspiratorial beliefs and outrageous comments. — Erin Mansfield, USA Today, 21 Nov. 2025

Everyone associates that with us. — Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 8 Oct. 2025

Noun

Until today, human scientists have been the agents responsible for discovering cancer cures, and for doing so they (and key associates) have been showered with academic credit and awards, perhaps even a Nobel Prize. — Jeffrey S. Flier, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026

The outlet reported that Jamal pocketed hundreds of thousands of dollars from at least six Feeding Our Future associates convicted in connection to the sprawling fraud scheme. — Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 5 Oct. 2026

According to Exemplar, associates at Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue are seeing higher overall sales this year than during the same period in 2025, though the company would not say by how much. — Rachel Felder, Robb Report, 4 Oct. 2026

Kao and his close associates donated nearly $900,000 to dozens of politicians, allowing Navatek to establish operations in half a dozen states with more than $40 million a year in government funds. — Katie Nixdorf, ProPublica, 3 Oct. 2026

Or Syria, where the government is now led by al-Qaeda associates. — Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026

Rivera said Rubio asked for his help in early 2017 developing a Venezuela policy that included sanctions against Maduro officials and business associates, visa revocations, the release of political prisoners and free elections. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026

Entry-level employees in the museum store and security and facilities associates will receive raises of between 8 and 22 percent, retroactive to July 1. — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 2 Oct. 2026

On this day in 1892, three Dalton brothers—Grattan, Bob, and Emmett—and two associates rode into Coffeyville, Kansas. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Oct. 2026