You had better not associate with those men.
Source: tatoeba (16816)
Associate
/əˈsəʊʃieɪt/
Synonyms for "associate" (605 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (10)
Strong matches (15)
Noun(5 words)
Verb(1 words)
Related words (25)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: colleague, fellow, abettor, accessory, accompany.
- Sentence evidence is available for associate, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wiktionary, opengloss, wordnet, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "associate".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "associate"
Keep "associate" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "associate" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "associate", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "associate" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
31 entriesacademic credentialacademic degreeaccompanimentattendantcerebrateco-occurrencecogitatecompeerconcomitantconnectioncooperationdegreeeducation credentialequalfoot soldierfriend
Showing 16 of 31 words.
More specific
18 entriesaffiliate withaffiliatedassociate deanassociate editorassociate professorbefriendcommunity college degreecorrelatedcoworkerinterrelateinterrelatedmingle withpartner withrelate tosocialize withteam member
Showing 16 of 18 words.
Collocations
17 entriesacademic associateassociate deanassociate degreeassociate editorassociate professorassociate withassociation withassociative propertyassociative thinkingbe associated withbusiness associateclose associateclosely associate withprofessional associateresearch associatestrongly associate with
Showing 16 of 17 words.
Inflections
5 entriesDerivations
4 entriesAntonyms
1 entriessimilar
2 entriesTranslations
21 translations across 12 languages.
Armenian
1 entries- զուգորդել verb (to connect in the mind or imagination)
Catalan
1 entries- associar verb (to connect in the mind or imagination)
Dutch
1 entries- associëren verb (to connect in the mind or imagination)
Finnish
3 entries- assosioida verb (to connect in the mind or imagination)
- liittää verb (to connect in the mind or imagination)
- yhdistää verb (to connect in the mind or imagination)
German
1 entries- assoziieren verb (to connect in the mind or imagination)
Hungarian
2 entries- asszociál verb (to connect in the mind or imagination)
- társít verb (to connect in the mind or imagination)
Japanese
2 entries- (連想する verb (to connect in the mind or imagination)
- 結び付けて考える verb (to connect in the mind or imagination)
Korean
3 entries- 관련(關聯)시켜 생각하다 verb (to connect in the mind or imagination)
- 상기(想起)시키다 verb (to connect in the mind or imagination)
- 연상(聯想)하다 verb (to connect in the mind or imagination)
Polish
3 entries- asocjować verb (to connect in the mind or imagination)
- kojarzyć verb (to connect in the mind or imagination)
- skojarzyć verb (to connect in the mind or imagination)
Portuguese
1 entries- associar verb (to connect in the mind or imagination)
Swedish
2 entries- associera verb (to connect in the mind or imagination)
- förknippa verb (to connect in the mind or imagination)
Turkish
1 entries- ilişkilendirmek verb (to connect in the mind or imagination)
Sample sentences
28 total sentences available.
We associate Darwin with the theory of evolution.
Source: tatoeba (23153)
We often associate black with death.
Source: tatoeba (23228)
What do you associate with summer?
Source: tatoeba (24392)
Showing 4 of 28 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "associate"?
Closest matches include colleague, fellow, abettor, accessory, accompany.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "associate"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.