as in lovers
literary
a person with whom someone is having a romantic or sexual relationship and especially a secret or improper relationship
Her husband found a love letter from her paramour.
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Recent Examples of paramours
As the media narrative went, a 27-year-old gay serial killer named Andrew Cunanan had murdered five wealthy gay paramours, the last of whom was the fashion designer Gianni Versace.
—
Adam Turner, Vanity Fair, 1 June 2026
Clark and Floyd had initially bonded over the show’s namesake app, a means for married people to meet discreet new partners; Floyd, too, had met up with potential paramours like Modern Love (Peter Sarsgaard), the online pseudonym of a local roller rink owner.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 13 Apr. 2026
During the course of the film, Grace deals with life, love (including a pair of paramours from the same band), professional disappointments, and the fallout of a horrible experience from her past.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 9 Mar. 2026
Other unconfirmed paramours include A$AP Rocky, multiple NBA players, and, most recently, Bad Bunny.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
The record is filled with sexy dance-pop bangers and finds Khalid — for the first time in his career — using he/him pronouns when discussing paramours in his lyrics.
—Jeff Nelson, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
Once again, the Western canon’s most famous paramours have traded soliloquies for pointe shoes.
—Lily Janiak, San Francisco Chronicle, 26 Apr. 2023
Adam Turner, Vanity Fair, 1 June 2026
Clark and Floyd had initially bonded over the show’s namesake app, a means for married people to meet discreet new partners; Floyd, too, had met up with potential paramours like Modern Love (Peter Sarsgaard), the online pseudonym of a local roller rink owner.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 13 Apr. 2026
During the course of the film, Grace deals with life, love (including a pair of paramours from the same band), professional disappointments, and the fallout of a horrible experience from her past.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 9 Mar. 2026
Other unconfirmed paramours include A$AP Rocky, multiple NBA players, and, most recently, Bad Bunny.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
The record is filled with sexy dance-pop bangers and finds Khalid — for the first time in his career — using he/him pronouns when discussing paramours in his lyrics.
—Jeff Nelson, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
Once again, the Western canon’s most famous paramours have traded soliloquies for pointe shoes.
—Lily Janiak, San Francisco Chronicle, 26 Apr. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paramours
Noun
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But for lovers of remote places and untamed nature, the effort is well worth it.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
14 June 2026
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And that’s a very good thing for the hardcore rye lovers out there.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
14 June 2026
Noun
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Some of the biggest Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders fans are their boyfriends and husbands.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
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Husbands and boyfriends have been booking birthday celebrations and surprise date nights for their ladies.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
29 May 2026
Noun
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It’s been 20 years now that the women partners of professional athletes — their wives and girlfriends — have been known as WAGs.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
15 June 2026
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Meghan hosted a game night with some girlfriends at the couple's home in Montecito, California, as evidenced by one of her best friend's latest Instagram posts.—
Hannah Malach,
InStyle,
15 June 2026
Noun
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Spinella and Veaset play husbands Greg Garrison and George Brady, respectively, co-proprietors of Port Wenn’s favorite eatery, The Salty Breeze.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
11 June 2026
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Spinella and Veasey play husbands Greg Garrison and George Brady, respectively, who are co-proprietors of Port Wenn’s favorite eatery, The Salty Breeze.—
Arushi Jacob,
Variety,
11 June 2026
Noun
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In The Frenzy, several characters in one story are research scientists and their wives, and the setting is something like the Institute for Advanced Study nearby in Princeton.—
Emma Alpern,
Vulture,
17 June 2026
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For many wives and long-term partners, the diagnosis quietly transforms everyday life, introducing new responsibilities, emotional burdens and relationship challenges.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Flow Space,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paramours.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paramours. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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