Thesaurus results for FORNICATION

fornication

noun

Definition of fornication

as in sex

Related Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of fornication Songs were also frequently flagged as dance music—while authorities viewed singing as having a proper place in praising God, dancing was totally forbidden as a gateway to fornication. — Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 9 May 2025 Strong was promoted to Hand of the King after King Viserys banished Otto Hightower from court in the wake of allegations of fornication between Princess Rhaenyra and Prince Daemon. — Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 13 June 2024 Because surely, surely, the housewives of Dublin were not so lustful that chance encounters with tradesmen led immediately to attacks of passion and fornication? — Mary Costello, The New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2023 Cleon is in the throes of hot, sweaty fornication with his robot aid, Laura Birn's Eto, when a group of assassins infiltrate his quarters and attack. — Nick Romano, EW.com, 10 July 2023

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fornication

Noun

In April, he was charged with one count of kidnapping to commit another crime, one count of first degree residential robbery, two counts of forcible oral copulation and one count of rape, The Times reported.

— Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
More than likely, based on Golden State statutes, the eight years Weinstein received for the forcible oral copulation conviction will be reduced by a couple of years.

— Dominic Patten, Deadline, 26 June 2026

Definition of copulation

Noun

Stanton hooked up with a grad student named Moira, a Slovenian with dark hair and novel takes on both Internal Energy Market rules and plein-air coitus.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2026
What this means for me, practically speaking, is that the director wants a close-up of my face as my character Joe is deep in dissociative reverie mid-coitus.

— Sophie Ansari, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025

Definition of coitus

Noun

The crab digs shallow burrows for mating and molting and frequently maintains several burrows within its territory, the USGS report states.

— Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
The gear’s teeth and internal ribs came through clearly, as did the clip’s narrow gate and mating features.

— Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of mating

Noun

The Museum of Modern Art rejected her films because of their depictions of lesbian lovemaking, Hammer claimed in an archival recording included by O’Connor.

— Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
In those seconds a number of things could’ve happened, even a détente resulting in lovemaking, but nothing did.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of lovemaking

Noun

Smith praised Carney for improving relations with a province that frequently clashed with his predecessor, Justin Trudeau, over his carbon tax and other energy policies.

— Rob Gillies, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
The waiver also raises questions about Washington’s commitment to Ukraine as relations between the two countries deteriorate.

— Rebecca Schneid, Time, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of relations

Browse Nearby Words

fornicating

fornication

for real

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Fornication.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fornication. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of fornication

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes