dalliance
noun
dal·li·ance
ˈda-lē-ən(t)s 
Synonyms
Examples of dalliance in a Sentence
an extremely serious scientist who is not much given to dalliance or idle chitchat
Recent Examples on the Web
Twice before, Musk has spoken with Netanyahu at the height of controversies over his dalliances with antisemitism — once in June after tweets about the Jewish financier George Soros, and again in September amid Musk’s feud with the ADL.
—
Will Oremus, Washington Post, 29 Nov. 2023
But here, sale culture isn’t a once-a-year dalliance with affordability.
—Dave Schilling, Los Angeles Times, 17 Nov. 2023
Yet despite dalliances with every lady(part) on the island, including the general’s lusty wife, Clytemnestra (Cindy Cheung), Horne is forlorn.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2023
But the sport’s dalliance with Saudi Arabia is not the first time in recent memory that the Women’s Tennis Association has confronted a similar ethical dilemma.
—The Politics Of Everything, The New Republic, 27 Sep. 2023
There are flashes of inspiration: The re-enactment of Orlando and Sasha’s passionate dalliance is arresting, with close-ups revealing the performer cast as Sasha.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Oct. 2023
Kristin Cavallari is getting real about a tipsy dalliance with Southern Charm star Craig Conover.
—Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 13 Sep. 2023
And 2020 was just another gulf in what seemed to be a journeyman career, a forgettable gap between major league dalliances in 2018 and 2021.
—Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2023
To fill out the scorecard, the felonious former president has rolled up a rap sheet:
In New York, for allegedly falsifying business documents to hush up his extramarital dalliances.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2023
See More
Will Oremus, Washington Post, 29 Nov. 2023
But here, sale culture isn’t a once-a-year dalliance with affordability.
—Dave Schilling, Los Angeles Times, 17 Nov. 2023
Yet despite dalliances with every lady(part) on the island, including the general’s lusty wife, Clytemnestra (Cindy Cheung), Horne is forlorn.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2023
But the sport’s dalliance with Saudi Arabia is not the first time in recent memory that the Women’s Tennis Association has confronted a similar ethical dilemma.
—The Politics Of Everything, The New Republic, 27 Sep. 2023
There are flashes of inspiration: The re-enactment of Orlando and Sasha’s passionate dalliance is arresting, with close-ups revealing the performer cast as Sasha.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Oct. 2023
Kristin Cavallari is getting real about a tipsy dalliance with Southern Charm star Craig Conover.
—Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 13 Sep. 2023
And 2020 was just another gulf in what seemed to be a journeyman career, a forgettable gap between major league dalliances in 2018 and 2021.
—Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2023
To fill out the scorecard, the felonious former president has rolled up a rap sheet:
In New York, for allegedly falsifying business documents to hush up his extramarital dalliances.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dalliance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of dalliance was
in the 14th century
Dictionary Entries Near dalliance
Cite this Entry
“Dalliance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dalliance. Accessed 10 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
dalliance
noun
dal·li·ance
ˈdal-ē-ən(t)s
1
: play entry 1 sense 2
especially
: the act of flirting
2
: action lacking in importance or seriousness
a short dalliance with politics
More from Merriam-Webster on dalliance
Nglish: Translation of dalliance for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of dalliance for Arabic Speakers
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