1
as in romance
also affaire
a brief romantic relationship
an affair between two singles spending the summer at the same beach resort
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in event
a social gathering
the annual country club dance is a really fancy affair
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in incident
something that happens
the whole affair from start to finish took a total of 15 minutes
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in matter
something to be dealt with
it's none of your affair whom I'm going out with tonight
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 affair
The center will also bring nearly 80 jobs, said Dale Morris, senior consultant of government affairs at American Airlines.
—
Arkansas Online, 21 Apr. 2026
Gonzales was accused of having an affair with a staffer who died by suicide last fall.
—Justin Papp, CNBC, 20 Apr. 2026
Experts from Europe’s main democracy and constitutional affairs body, the Venice Commission, visited Serbia last month for talks with political leaders and top court and legal officials to assess concerns raised by the president of Serbia’s parliament.
—ABC News, 20 Apr. 2026
While their discussion of the affair aired on April 16, it was filmed during the summer of 2025.
—Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for affair
Arkansas Online, 21 Apr. 2026
Gonzales was accused of having an affair with a staffer who died by suicide last fall.
—Justin Papp, CNBC, 20 Apr. 2026
Experts from Europe’s main democracy and constitutional affairs body, the Venice Commission, visited Serbia last month for talks with political leaders and top court and legal officials to assess concerns raised by the president of Serbia’s parliament.
—ABC News, 20 Apr. 2026
While their discussion of the affair aired on April 16, it was filmed during the summer of 2025.
—Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for affair
Recent Examples of Synonyms for affair
Noun
-
Meanwhile, today Uranus enters a part of your chart to stay for six years, encouraging impulsive vacations, surprising romance and unexpected children.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Nataliia was watching a romance film on television.—
Lizzie Johnson,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Subscribe today Hello, this is Hui Jie writing to you from Singapore, while Leonie is away preparing for CNBC’s CONVERGE LIVE event, featuring names like former Canadian PM Justin Trudeau and Capital Group CEO Mike Gitlin.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The plots of these shows usually center on a murder, which occurs not so much to end a human life as to inconvenience our star, who must postpone a brunch or a media event to conceal an inconvenient corpse.—
Libby Gelman-Waxner,
New Yorker,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
More than anything, Bernard’s significant production at the college level should better position him to make an impact with a QB like Rodgers, who expects precision and professionalism.—
Mike DeFabo,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The contract modification ensures that the production of the jet engines will remain at the company’s Connecticut locations, according to Larson.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
An irrelevant incident in isolation.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Saturday’s shooting was akin to another deadly incident involving CPD in November 2018 at a hospital in Bronzeville.—
Talia Soglin,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The scientists in question worked across specialties ranging from materials processing to the development of cancer drugs, only in some cases dealing with aerospace or nuclear matters.—
Dan Adler,
Vanity Fair,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The Justice Department's Weaponization Working Group is planning to release a report analyzing how the memo came to be, according to sources familiar with the matter.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
For anyone who thought polka dots were just a passing summer fling—think again.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Apr. 2026
-
This season, our beauty routines are having a spring fling with drugstore beauty products.—
Jessie Quinn,
StyleCaster,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The plan, conveyed through mediators in Pakistan to break a stalemate with Washington, calls for extending the ceasefire so the parties can work toward a permanent end to the fighting, Axios said.—
Jon Herskovitz,
Bloomberg,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Minaj will attend as a guest of Fox News, which is also throwing its own VIP party before Saturday's official dinner, Fox confirmed to USA TODAY.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
On homelessness, McCann took ownership of the city’s current strategy, citing the creation of the Homeless Outreach Team, the opening of a transitional shelter called the Chula Vista Village at Otay and the encampment ban as products of his leadership.—
Walker Armstrong,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Las Vegas has depth at the edge, making the Auburn product an interesting pick considering needs like offensive line, defensive tackle and wide receiver are still unfilled.—
Sam Warren,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Affair.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affair. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
