as in love affair
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Recent Examples of criminal conversation
Brenay Kennard, a lifestyle content creator with nearly 3 million followers on TikTok, is at the center of a civil lawsuit that has made national headlines, in which she is accused of criminal conversation and alienation of affection.
—
Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 12 Nov. 2025
According to the verdict form, the jury found Kennard liable for $250,000 for the criminal conversation claim and awarded another $1.5 million in damages for the alienation of affection claim.
—Cristian Santana, NBC news, 12 Nov. 2025
Howard sued his wife’s lover for alienation of affection and criminal conversation, according to court records.
—Lateshia Beachum, Washington Post, 3 Oct. 2019
North Carolina is one of about a half-dozen states that allow lawsuits accusing a cheating spouse’s lover of alienation of affection and criminal conversation.
—Emery P. Dalesio, The Seattle Times, 5 Sep. 2017
Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 12 Nov. 2025
According to the verdict form, the jury found Kennard liable for $250,000 for the criminal conversation claim and awarded another $1.5 million in damages for the alienation of affection claim.
—Cristian Santana, NBC news, 12 Nov. 2025
Howard sued his wife’s lover for alienation of affection and criminal conversation, according to court records.
—Lateshia Beachum, Washington Post, 3 Oct. 2019
North Carolina is one of about a half-dozen states that allow lawsuits accusing a cheating spouse’s lover of alienation of affection and criminal conversation.
—Emery P. Dalesio, The Seattle Times, 5 Sep. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for criminal conversation
Noun
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Inara George looks back on it now as wistfully as someone remembering a love affair or a semester abroad.—
Mikael Wood,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Mar. 2026
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The store is the natural conclusion of his lifelong (and apparently epigenetic) love affair with books.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Readers send Miss Manners not only their table and party questions, but those involving the more complicated aspects of life - romance, work, family relationships, child-rearing, death - as well as philosophical and moral dilemmas.—
Judith Martin,
Dallas Morning News,
20 Mar. 2026
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That all unfortunately overshadows the palpable affection Gosling and Emma Stone have in their second of three movie romances, and even Gosling’s playboy charisma gets dulled a bit.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Investigators said the two women shared a love interest who broke up with Perkins to be with Gonzalez.—
Emerson Clarridge
Updated March 21,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Mar. 2026
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Not a lot of people get together for love.—
Souvankham Thammavongsa,
New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Criminal conversation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/criminal%20conversation. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
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