adultery

noun

ə-ˈdəl-t(ə-)rē How to pronounce adultery (audio)
Definition of adulterynext
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

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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 Hundreds of pages of filings in a civil lawsuit and countersuit detail allegations of fraud and elder abuse, years of adultery, and a battle for property, luxury sports cars and cash. — Amber Gaudet, Charlotte Observer, 10 July 2026 Under the law, moral offenses — including adultery and same-sex relations — can carry penalties of up to 100 lashes. — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026 Four other people were publicly caned on Thursday for online gambling and adultery. — ABC News, 2 July 2026 New York adopted a general divorce law in 1787 but the only grounds were adultery, which was also a crime. — Patricia Fersch, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for adultery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adultery
  1. cheating
  2. misconduct
  3. infidelity
Noun
  • This has already resulted in rogue AI agents hacking, cheating, and even creating new viruses.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Last year, Anthropic found that if a model is allowed to cheat during training, the cheating becomes a habit.
    — Craig S. Smith, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of cheating
Noun
  • Records identified the owners and operators of the funeral home as Clark and Johanna Morgan, who have a history of allegations of misconduct in the course of their work in the local funeral industry.
    — Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Federal law only allows presidents to remove members of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors for cause, which usually refers to serious misconduct.
    — Erin Mansfield, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of misconduct
Noun
  • Gripped by a paralyzing fear for the fate of her future children, Naama returns to the same monument where the infidelity took place; there, her parents appear before her.
    — Katie Campione, Deadline, 4 Aug. 2026
  • In June, The New York Times spoke to multiple women who accused Platner of physical intimidation, infidelity and disturbing comments.
    — Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026
Definition of infidelity

Browse Nearby Words

adulterous
adultery
adulthood
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Adultery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adultery. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on adultery

Nglish: Translation of adultery for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about adultery

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