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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Example Sentences
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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
-
Soccer fans, cinephiles, and fashion lovers alike will surely be casing the stadium for a glimpse of Expósito, either hoping to confirm the relationship rumors that sparked earlier this year or take notes on what the stylish actor wears to the game.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
14 June 2026
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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
Noun
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The black widow is not only the namesake of an Avenger, but used as a term for female serial killers that take out their husbands and boyfriends, as black widow spiders sometimes eat their male partners.—
Eva Flowe
May 28,
Charlotte Observer,
28 May 2026
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The trouble reportedly started when some of the party attendees started arguing with each other about their boyfriends, witness Jeremiah Braxton told The Associated Press.—
Robert McGreevy,
FOXNews.com,
6 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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One of the objectives of Faith and Family Month is to strengthen relationships among husbands and wives, parents and children and other familial relationships.—
Lauren Costantino,
Miami Herald,
10 June 2026
Noun
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In a sentencing memorandum in the federal case, a defense attorney said Rhone was born in Houston to a man who fathered 27 children with at least three wives while working as an explosives expert building railroads.—
Karen Kucher,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 June 2026
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One of the objectives of Faith and Family Month is to strengthen relationships among husbands and wives, parents and children and other familial relationships.—
Lauren Costantino,
Miami Herald,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paramours.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paramours. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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