as in cheating
a sexual encounter or relationship between a married person and someone other than their spouse
adultery is the cause of many divorces
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of adultery
Set in Lagos, this moody, engrossing novel braids together the stories of three women reared to believe that they are cursed because of a shared ancestor’s adultery.
—
The New Yorker, New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2025
Bianca filed for divorce on the grounds of adultery in 1978, a year after Mick started seeing model Jerry Hall.
—Marina Watts, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
As China’s economy has grown, so too has its incidence of adultery.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
—Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for adultery
The New Yorker, New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2025
Bianca filed for divorce on the grounds of adultery in 1978, a year after Mick started seeing model Jerry Hall.
—Marina Watts, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
As China’s economy has grown, so too has its incidence of adultery.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
—Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for adultery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adultery
Noun
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An honor council, comprised of administrators, teachers, and members of the student government, would sit in judgment on cases of alleged cheating.—
Nell Freudenberger,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
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In the wake of the cheating, FIS has modified its rules and brought in a coordinator to oversee screening of gear and hired former Austrian ski jumper Mathias Hafele to work as equipment expert.—
Brian Melley,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Sappenfield was permanently banned by the United States Center for SafeSport in May 2024 for physical and emotional misconduct, retaliation, abuse of process, and failure to report a potential SafeSport violation.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
16 Feb. 2026
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Sought book on prosecutorial misconduct In the bulk of his conversations, Nathan detailed the misery of jail life.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The subsequent episode—in which Sullivan, who had a serious boyfriend at home, is seen making out with one of the men—framed the incident as a simple case of infidelity.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
18 Feb. 2026
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Moments after claiming bronze in Tuesday’s 20-kilometer men’s biathlon, Norway’s Sturla Holm Laegreid used the spotlight to make an emotional confession about infidelity and lingering feelings for his former partner.—
Denny Alfonso,
New York Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Adultery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adultery. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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