as in supporters
someone associated with another to give assistance or moral support
a child-welfare cause that has made bedfellows of activists who are normally on opposite ends of the political spectrum
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Recent Examples of bedfellows
Then came salt coffee, when a small coffee shop owner in Huế figured that salt and coffee might make for interesting bedfellows.
—
Arundhati Hazra, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Jan. 2026
In essence, art and commerce are not natural bedfellows.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 8 Dec. 2025
The opposition to NetBros has certainly resulted in some strange things and strange bedfellows.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 5 Dec. 2025
Politics makes strange bedfellows.
—Ben Wedeman, CNN Money, 30 Nov. 2025
Swagger is out and socialism is in, and socialism makes for strange bedfellows.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 29 Nov. 2025
Aggie and Nile quickly become strange bedfellows, both using each other while also growing closer.
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 14 Nov. 2025
Still other stories even imagine an alliance of unlikely bedfellows—once powerful liberal political reformers and conservative generals from the People’s Liberation Army, for instance—who are teaming up to admonish Xi or to replace him.
—Deng Yuwen, Foreign Affairs, 14 Nov. 2025
This 12-team playoff makes for strange bedfellows.
—Blake Toppmeyer, USA TODAY, 13 Nov. 2025
Arundhati Hazra, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Jan. 2026
In essence, art and commerce are not natural bedfellows.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 8 Dec. 2025
The opposition to NetBros has certainly resulted in some strange things and strange bedfellows.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 5 Dec. 2025
Politics makes strange bedfellows.
—Ben Wedeman, CNN Money, 30 Nov. 2025
Swagger is out and socialism is in, and socialism makes for strange bedfellows.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 29 Nov. 2025
Aggie and Nile quickly become strange bedfellows, both using each other while also growing closer.
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 14 Nov. 2025
Still other stories even imagine an alliance of unlikely bedfellows—once powerful liberal political reformers and conservative generals from the People’s Liberation Army, for instance—who are teaming up to admonish Xi or to replace him.
—Deng Yuwen, Foreign Affairs, 14 Nov. 2025
This 12-team playoff makes for strange bedfellows.
—Blake Toppmeyer, USA TODAY, 13 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bedfellows
Noun
-
Some even questioned the legitimacy of the petition signatures submitted to the city, noting that some supporters for the neighborhood dog park didn’t live within a 500-foot radius or even live in the city.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Police have repeatedly used tear gas to break up his rallies, and several of his supporters have been arrested.—
Emmanuel Akinwotu,
NPR,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Trump’s quips about acquiring the island have ignited international concerns about Greenland’s independence and sovereignty from lawmakers in Washington and NATO allies alike.—
Ashleigh Fields,
The Hill,
10 Jan. 2026
-
The governor’s allies have dismissed that, saying voters know Abbott, have judged his record and do not buy Democrats’ corruption allegations.—
Karen Brooks Harper,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bedfellows.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bedfellows. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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