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
These two worlds may seem like strange bedfellows—what does a luxury hotel in Switzerland’s Engadine valley have to do with the king of the 1980s downtown New York art scene?
—
Laura May Todd, Vogue, 25 Feb. 2026
The conspiracy theories and potentially unflattering bedfellows are then rattled off — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a Romanian church accused in a child trafficking scandal.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 25 Feb. 2026
Both ideological camps are composed of strange bedfellows.
—Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 3 Feb. 2026
The Zeitgeist of 1969—Apollo 11, Stonewall, Woodstock, Charles Manson, Sesame Street, the Vietnam War—is perhaps best captured in a movie about strange bedfellows.
—Air Mail, 31 Jan. 2026
The passionate youthfulness here and the spa’s holistic, restorative aura might seem like odd bedfellows, but the chemistry between the two enriches rather than contradicts the overall vibe of cool, refined, New York-ness.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026
Mocha pinstripe trousers with subtle side darts and a baby blue track jacket sound like unlikely bedfellows.
—Alison Syrett Cleary, InStyle, 18 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
Laura May Todd, Vogue, 25 Feb. 2026
The conspiracy theories and potentially unflattering bedfellows are then rattled off — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a Romanian church accused in a child trafficking scandal.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 25 Feb. 2026
Both ideological camps are composed of strange bedfellows.
—Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 3 Feb. 2026
The Zeitgeist of 1969—Apollo 11, Stonewall, Woodstock, Charles Manson, Sesame Street, the Vietnam War—is perhaps best captured in a movie about strange bedfellows.
—Air Mail, 31 Jan. 2026
The passionate youthfulness here and the spa’s holistic, restorative aura might seem like odd bedfellows, but the chemistry between the two enriches rather than contradicts the overall vibe of cool, refined, New York-ness.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026
Mocha pinstripe trousers with subtle side darts and a baby blue track jacket sound like unlikely bedfellows.
—Alison Syrett Cleary, InStyle, 18 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bedfellows
Noun
-
Campaigning began almost immediately after the announcement, with major commercial news outlets showing political advertising for the Social Democrats, while supporters of the populist anti-immigration Danish People's party began leafleting in parliament in Copenhagen.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Feb. 2026
-
On Wednesday, supporters of the defendants gathered outside the federal courthouse, distributing fliers to passersby.—
Sarah Bahari,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Under former President Bashar Assad, Syria was among Iran's closest regional allies and a staunch critic of Israel, yet a statement from its foreign ministry singularly condemned Iran, reflecting the new government's efforts to rebuild ties with regional economic heavyweights and the United States.—
CLAUDIA CIOBANU,
Arkansas Online,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Its menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas, and our allies throughout the world.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bedfellows.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bedfellows. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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