romance 1 of 2

Definition of romancenext
as in affair
a brief romantic relationship an office romance that ended with hurt feelings on both sides

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

romance

2 of 2

verb

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of romance
Noun
To point out that Colin isn’t a conventional romantic lead is also to note, redundantly, that this movie isn’t a conventional romance. Justin Chang, New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2026 Beyond the romance and historic elegance, Villa Sant’Andrea is fully outfitted for modern life, with fiber-optic connectivity and high-tech surveillance systems. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
And Tapestry is careful when romancing fresh prospects. Evan Clark, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2025 This is the place that Manchester calls home for the next six months, leaving occasionally to sell video games for cash, go to church, and romance a local single mother named Leigh Wainscott. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for romance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for romance
Noun
  • Savannah Guthrie is also married to Democratic political advisor Michael Feldman, who served as Vice President Al Gore’s deputy director of legislative affairs from 1993 to 1997, and senior adviser and traveling chief of staff for the former VP.
    Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 3 Feb. 2026
  • Demands for transparency are increasing because revelations about this despairing state of affairs will clarify precisely who is accountable.
    Azadeh Moaveni, Time, 3 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Nothing like it Eric Schickler, a political scientist at the University of California at Berkeley, points out that presidents more typically try to woo the places that voted against them.
    Ronald Brownstein, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026
  • And a whole succession of leaders from countries that are nominally still American allies — Britain, Germany, South Korea — are wooing rather than shunning Beijing to deepen economic cooperation.
    Andreas Kluth, Twin Cities, 22 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The breakout pair play closeted pro hockey players that are rivals on the ice who carry out a secret fling away from the rink.
    Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 30 Jan. 2026
  • In case you haven’t been drawn in to the six-episode series yet, Kenworthy is referencing Hollander’s brief fling with actress Rose Landry (Sophie Nélisse), which ends when Landry susses out that the hockey hunk is possibly more interested in her gay BFF than her.
    Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • His candidacy sparked sharp divisions, with supporters portraying him as a symbol of stability and opponents denouncing him as a reminder of authoritarian rule and unresolved war crimes.
    Nic Robertson, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
  • Senate Bill 26-005 comes after federal agents shot and killed two American citizens who were at immigration operations in Minnesota, sparking protests across the country.
    Shaun Boyd, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • According to the nanny, Banfield feared his wife would file for divorce and set up a phony account on a fetish dating website under his wife’s name to catfish and lure Ryan, 39, to the house for a consensual but violent role-play scenario.
    David Matthews, New York Daily News, 3 Feb. 2026
  • The message was dated hours before European governments announced a 500-billion euro deal to shore up the single currency.
    Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Romance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/romance. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on romance

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!