1
as in romances
also affaires
a brief romantic relationship
an affair between two singles spending the summer at the same beach resort
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in events
a social gathering
the annual country club dance is a really fancy affair
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in productions
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 things
something that happens
the whole affair from start to finish took a total of 15 minutes
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in matters
something to be dealt with
it's none of your affair whom I'm going out with tonight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of affairs
Games 1 and 2 were tense, one-run affairs.
—
Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 3 June 2026
Mohammad Shukri, Syrian minister of religious affairs, visited the tent in the Rukneddine neighborhood and said the country's new government is making sure that the culprits are held accountable.
—ABC News, 3 June 2026
The current state of affairs in college football is reaching a tipping point.
—Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026
Breakfasts are leisurely continental affairs, with homemade medialunas and fantastic cut fruit.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
John Follmer is an Iraq war vet and an adviser to Los Angeles County on military and veterans affairs, who works with homeless vets on the tough streets of Los Angeles.
—Quil Lawrence, NPR, 2 June 2026
Matthew Parr, the county’s director of economic development and government affairs, said the survey is designed to produce evidence the county can take directly to state and federal officials.
—Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2026
The new moon in Gemini, however, brings fresh energy to friendships, community affairs and future ventures, making this ideal for reconnecting with friends, old co-workers or reconsidering your goals for the future.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 June 2026
History repeats itself Netanyahu is driven in large part by Israeli domestic affairs.
—Asher Kaufman, The Conversation, 1 June 2026
Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 3 June 2026
Mohammad Shukri, Syrian minister of religious affairs, visited the tent in the Rukneddine neighborhood and said the country's new government is making sure that the culprits are held accountable.
—ABC News, 3 June 2026
The current state of affairs in college football is reaching a tipping point.
—Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026
Breakfasts are leisurely continental affairs, with homemade medialunas and fantastic cut fruit.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
John Follmer is an Iraq war vet and an adviser to Los Angeles County on military and veterans affairs, who works with homeless vets on the tough streets of Los Angeles.
—Quil Lawrence, NPR, 2 June 2026
Matthew Parr, the county’s director of economic development and government affairs, said the survey is designed to produce evidence the county can take directly to state and federal officials.
—Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2026
The new moon in Gemini, however, brings fresh energy to friendships, community affairs and future ventures, making this ideal for reconnecting with friends, old co-workers or reconsidering your goals for the future.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 June 2026
History repeats itself Netanyahu is driven in large part by Israeli domestic affairs.
—Asher Kaufman, The Conversation, 1 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for affairs
Noun
-
For a storyteller whose works revolve around complicated or slippery romances, life-altering revelations, and fateful everyday encounters, the brutality of the mafia and New York City street vigilantes feels far removed from her own.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
4 June 2026
-
It’s divided into five romances.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
Nobody knows how often adverse events occur, said Kristen Nixon, a Johns Hopkins University researcher who has studied posts about weight loss drugs on Reddit, a popular online forum.—
Maia Rosenfeld,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
-
McCormick has booked several authors already for events at the bookshop, including local author Angela Cervantes, who has written three books for American Girl.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
In San Francisco, patrons and politicians courting big-budget opera, dance, and theater productions were pushed by protests to designate funds for cultural centers in the Mission and other neighborhoods.—
Katy Siegel,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
-
When studios face financial strain, productions are delayed, moved to lower cost locations, or canceled altogether.—
Bill Lockyer,
HollywoodReporter,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Jonathan liked to drop in on patients, ask how things were going.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
-
Kenny is going through her things and counts 26 black T-shirts.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
To make matters worse, officials said that they are not being adopted fast enough.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
2 June 2026
-
This is why wind speed matters so much.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Netflix announced a second melodrama last December, about the secrets and intrigues of an elite Rio de Janeiro family, created in partnership with Amaia Produções and Conspiração, with general direction by Mauro Mendonça Filho.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
25 May 2026
-
The rich textures and thick ambiance of The Eyes of Others are pure high modernist 1960s Italian cinema, but De Sica unfurls the film’s winding intrigues with a contemporary sense of suspense, carnality, and visual boldness.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Those looking for a special Saturday ritual will delight in the seasonal tea that takes place in the lobby lounge for parties of six or less.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 June 2026
-
In Seattle, Nordstrom will support Summer of Sports at Westlake Park – a free, open-to-the-public outdoor viewing destination with a Nordstrom VIP area, marquee matchups and food and drink, including watch parties on each of the tournament’s six Seattle match dates.—
Stephen Garner,
Footwear News,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Why are taxpayers subsidizing products that worsen diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and metabolic dysfunction?—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
30 May 2026
-
All products featured on Vogue are independently selected by our editors.—
Laura Tortora,
Vogue,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Affairs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affairs. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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