Communicate and Relate

Communicate

Communicate verb - To engage in an exchange of information or ideas.
Usage example: for decades the two medical centers have been communicating about cancer research

Relate is a synonym for communicate in convey topic. In some cases you can use "Relate" instead a verb "Communicate", when it comes to topics like connect, ideas.

Relate

Relate verb - To form a close personal relationship.

Communicate is a synonym for relate in connect topic. You can use "Communicate" instead a verb "Relate", if it concerns topics such as portray.

Common collocations

experience communicate experience relate experience
mind communicate mind relate mind
people communicate people relate people
thanks communicate thanks relate thanks
Other words: point, situation, time, way, story, message, voices, concepts.

Both words in one sentence

  • Literature / The Lost Fleet Ironically, the spiders-wolves are the only ones we can relate to and who actually communicate instead of trying to kill us.
  • Her eccentric behavior isn't portrayed as funny or cute, but instead it makes it difficult for anyone to communicate with her, much less relate with her.
  • Series / Switched at Birth Then again, both Emmett and Daphne can communicate easier and relate with each other because they are both Deaf and able to sign fluently.
Cite this Source
Relate and Communicate. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 16, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/communicate/relate
Communicate & Relate. N.p., 2016. Web. 16 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/communicate/relate>.
Relate or Communicate. 2016. Accessed August 16, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/communicate/relate.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "communicate" and "relate" have occurred on timeline