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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of adultery
Many scandals arise from the occasion of these activities, and adulteries and other outrageous crimes are committed as a clear offence to God, a very serious danger to the souls of those committing them, and a pernicious example to others.
—
The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 27 Mar. 2025
In the court of public opinion, any credible allegation of drug use, adultery or moral misstep is typically perceived as career-ending.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 21 May 2025
Mlotek’s title presumably comes from no-fault divorce laws, which did away with the idea that divorce required proof of wrongdoing, such as abuse or adultery.
—Hannah Jocelyn, New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2025
The synopsis reads: 1972: The Ecclesiastical Court of Santiago de Compostela convicted Sagrario Fra, a shellfish harvester in Ferrol, for committing adultery.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 31 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for adultery
The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 27 Mar. 2025
In the court of public opinion, any credible allegation of drug use, adultery or moral misstep is typically perceived as career-ending.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 21 May 2025
Mlotek’s title presumably comes from no-fault divorce laws, which did away with the idea that divorce required proof of wrongdoing, such as abuse or adultery.
—Hannah Jocelyn, New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2025
The synopsis reads: 1972: The Ecclesiastical Court of Santiago de Compostela convicted Sagrario Fra, a shellfish harvester in Ferrol, for committing adultery.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 31 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for adultery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adultery
Noun
-
The response made mention of the allegations against Fleming of misconduct.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
30 June 2025
-
The county’s voters in March passed Measure A, which granted the supervisors the ability to oust Sheriff Christina Corpus for misconduct.—
Mercury News Editorial,
Mercury News,
27 June 2025
Noun
-
The post was accompanied by a series of hashtags that included #divorce, #cheating and #infidelity.—
The Athletic MLB Staff,
New York Times,
21 June 2025
-
The series boasts all the good bone structure of a traditional family drama, with threads of criminality, infidelity, lies, drugs and everything in between woven throughout each episode.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
19 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Adultery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adultery. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share