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romance 1 of 2

noun

rō-ˈman(t)s How to pronounce romance (audio)
Definition of romancenext
as in affair
a brief romantic relationship an office romance that ended with hurt feelings on both sides

Synonyms & Similar Words

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romance

2 of 2

verb

as in to woo

Related Words

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
This time around, the show features a romance between Borden and the family maid, Bridget Sullivan (Vicky Krieps). — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 17 Sep. 2026 Priscilla Johnson, 33, pleaded guilty to theft and criminal exploitation of an at-risk adult in a case prosecutors described as a romance scam. — Kelly Werthmann, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026
Verb
In 1973, Boyd had an affair with Ronnie Wood, while Harrison did the same with Wood’s wife, and Harrison also later romanced Ringo Starr’s wife, Maureen Cox. — Radhika Seth, Vogue, 19 Dec. 2025 Anthony Geary, the thoughtful General Hospital actor who as the complex Luke Spencer raped and romanced Genie Francis’ Laura Webber Baldwin on the way to an unprecedented eight Daytime Emmy Awards and soap opera superstardom, has died. — Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 15 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for romance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for romance
  1. affair
  2. woo
  3. fling
  4. spark
  5. date
Noun
  • Dmitriy Mazurov plays successful company director Gleb, whose seemingly perfect life starts to unravel, not due to the conflict however, but rather his suspicions that his wife (Iris Lebedeva) is having an affair.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2026
  • At 53 years old, Feng Xia, a Chinese immigrant in Montreal, finally confronts her repressed desire for women and begins a secret affair with a young Québécoise.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of affair
Verb
  • To woo the American artist best known for his curvaceous and colorful Balloon Dog sculptures, Hublot invited him to its Nyon, Switzerland, home base.
    — Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Related Stories The latter who wooed viewers with her portrait of tax inspector Sara Santano, returns here with a new tax evasion case.
    — Annika Pham, Variety, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of woo
Noun
  • Before Harry and Markle were together, the royal was spotted with many girlfriends and brief flings over the years.
    — Giovana Gelhoren, InStyle, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Renata, post-divorce from her fraudster husband Gordon, takes up motorcycle lessons and a fling with a workout instructor.
    — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of fling
Verb
  • That debate sparked angry exchanges among different justices, which led Justice Flávio Dino to ask for the review that led to postponing the decision.
    — MAURICIO SAVARESE, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Her love of travel has been a lifelong passion but was undeniably sparked by a spontaneous solo trip to London her junior year of college.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of spark
Verb
  • Mirrors manufactured in China, technology that could date as far back as the Han Dynasty (206 BC-24 AD), eventually made their way to Korea and Japan.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Good evidence is dated, repeatable and reads the same to a board, an auditor and a regulator.
    — Maman Ibrahim, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of date

Browse Nearby Words

roly-poly
romance
romanced
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Romance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/romance. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on romance

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about romance

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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