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
Ken Paxton, a Republican running for the Senate, denied the adultery allegations.
—
Jane Harper, Dallas Morning News, 15 Jan. 2026
The book presents itself as a comic take on the classic adultery novel and a send-up of a narrow, self-conscious group of downwardly mobile New Yorkers.
—Literary Hub, 8 Jan. 2026
The initial batch of documents showed that Angela Paxton sought the divorce on the grounds that Ken Paxton had committed adultery, but included no additional details.
—S.e. Jenkins, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for adultery
Jane Harper, Dallas Morning News, 15 Jan. 2026
The book presents itself as a comic take on the classic adultery novel and a send-up of a narrow, self-conscious group of downwardly mobile New Yorkers.
—Literary Hub, 8 Jan. 2026
The initial batch of documents showed that Angela Paxton sought the divorce on the grounds that Ken Paxton had committed adultery, but included no additional details.
—S.e. Jenkins, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for adultery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adultery
Noun
-
That cheating is rampant in our elections.—
TIME Staff,
Time,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Not every young person feels this type of cheating is wrong.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
When allegations of misconduct arose against Krauss at ASU, the physicist exchanged dozens of messages and emails with Epstein seeking advice on how to handle them.—
Scott Neuman,
NPR,
9 Mar. 2026
-
This comes amid the monarch’s cancer battle and Andrew’s arrest for misconduct in public office, with questions being asked about what King Charles and even Queen Elizabeth before him knew of Andrew’s dealings with Epstein.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Conventional political wisdom has it that Talarico was the stronger Democratic candidate in November, especially if Republicans nominate Paxton, a conservative firebrand who has weathered allegations of corruption and infidelity over the years.—
Bill Barrow,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Conventional political wisdom has Talarico as the stronger Democratic candidate for November, especially if Republicans nominate Paxton, a conservative firebrand who has weathered allegations of corruption and infidelity over the years.—
Bill Barrow,
Twin Cities,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Adultery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adultery. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
