1
as in romance
also affaire
a brief romantic relationship
an affair between two singles spending the summer at the same beach resort
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2
as in event
a social gathering
the annual country club dance is a really fancy affair
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3
as in production
something produced by physical or intellectual effort
the lead float in the parade was a pretty impressive affair, a giant eagle's head with equally huge wings
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4
as in incident
something that happens
the whole affair from start to finish took a total of 15 minutes
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5
as in matter
something to be dealt with
it's none of your affair whom I'm going out with tonight
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of affair
At the time, the affair could be viewed as but the latest chapter in Germany’s distinctly pathological relationship to Jews.
—
Daniel May, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
With many small players also operating in the sector, there are likely to be others that struggle to weather the current market headwinds, but Western Union remains convinced that the current state of affairs is just temporary.
—Daniel Webber, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
The affair was also star-studded, former NFL player Victor Cruz, and rapper and host Jim Jones walked in the show.
—Essence, 18 Aug. 2025
In the United States, climate ambition is increasingly becoming a state-by-state affair.
—Phil De Luna, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for affair
Daniel May, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
With many small players also operating in the sector, there are likely to be others that struggle to weather the current market headwinds, but Western Union remains convinced that the current state of affairs is just temporary.
—Daniel Webber, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
The affair was also star-studded, former NFL player Victor Cruz, and rapper and host Jim Jones walked in the show.
—Essence, 18 Aug. 2025
In the United States, climate ambition is increasingly becoming a state-by-state affair.
—Phil De Luna, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for affair
Recent Examples of Synonyms for affair
Noun
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Some men are deciding that being a father is what matters to them—even if romance isn’t in the cards.—
Faith Hill,
The Atlantic,
19 Aug. 2025
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His portfolio also boasts a writing stint on Russell T. Davies’ Doctor Who, as well as Dracula, Inside Man and HBO’s sci-fi romance miniseries The Time Traveler’s Wife, among others.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Here's a look back at some of the highlights from the multi-day event inside Freedom Hall.—
Leo Bertucci,
The Courier-Journal,
26 Aug. 2025
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Some companies have begun to remove alcohol from events and social occasions.—
Melissa A. Wheeler,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Nissan delays production of three new electric SUVs at its Mississippi plant until 2028, a three-year postponement.—
Stuart Dyos,
USA Today,
23 Aug. 2025
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The company announced full production started Aug. 19.—
Olivia Evans,
The Courier-Journal,
23 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The City reported the incident to the NYC Department of Investigation, and federal prosecutors from the office of Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella contacted The City’s lawyers, as reported by the outlet.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
22 Aug. 2025
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Fitzgerald was originally suspended for two weeks for the hazing incidents before a pivot by the university.—
Kurt Badenhausen,
Sportico.com,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Last week's ruling by U.S. District Judge Fred Biery of San Antonio adds to a growing wave of legal challenges on the matter in a fight that could ultimately reach the U.S. Supreme Court.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Aug. 2025
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That's because matter, via its gravitational influence, slows down cosmic expansion, while dark energy speeds it up.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
24 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Still, while numbers and category domination make for splashy headlines, the real intrigue lies in how nominees carefully curate the episodes meant to win over Emmy voters.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
20 Aug. 2025
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Sharpening skills under Jones’ mentorship in Albuquerque only adds to the intrigue surrounding the start of his career.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Texas Democrats return home Democrats in the Texas House of Representatives returned to Austin on Monday after leaving the state two weeks ago in protest of a Republican plan to redraw congressional maps to help the party gain seats in 2026.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
20 Aug. 2025
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But DeSantis and the party have had to bat down fringe elements who have embraced Trump’s claims of widespread voter fraud, including with the use of mail-in ballots in Florida.—
Lawrence Mower,
Miami Herald,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Scammers in China, Turkey, and India are selling counterfeit products that falsely claim to contain semaglutide.—
Beth Warren,
The Tennessean,
21 Aug. 2025
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Today, the viral TikTok product has over 200 million organic views and 650,000 social followers across platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.—
Jon Stojan,
USA Today,
21 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Affair.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affair. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.
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