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
The Kelce-Swift romance started quietly, but the couple made their relationship public in Kansas City at a 2023 Chiefs game. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 4 July 2026 Swift and Kelce's wedding comes three years after their romance began. — Michael Nied, InStyle, 4 July 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
  • Boards then need a position on industry-level governance participation (standards bodies, information-sharing arrangements, mutual grounding agreements) as a fiduciary matter, not a public-affairs nicety.
    — Anjana Susarla, Forbes.com, 9 July 2026
  • The accolades come just five days after Swift married beau Travis Kelce in an extravagant — yet secretive — Manhattan affair at Madison Square Garden.
    — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Definition of affair
Verb
  • However, Canada’s goal came from Eustáquio, the son of Portuguese parents who Herdman wooed away from that country’s U-21 team in 2019.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2026
  • Pick these up to woo the guests of your next dinner party, or just to woo yourself when the overhead light becomes too overstimulating.
    — Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 27 June 2026
Definition of woo
Noun
  • In Hawai’i, two lovers (Kenji and Jane) are drawn together for what’s supposed to be a summer fling.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 July 2026
  • Bloc Party’s next album charts the course of such a fling, one that frontman Kele Okereke experienced himself after separating from his long-term partner.
    — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 25 June 2026
Definition of fling
Verb
  • When a massive Sonoma Coast residential development pitch sparked fears that beach access would be lost.
    — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
  • Going forward, the Breakaway/Build model might spark more giving from foundations and corporations and others that are looking to give in simple, practical ways.
    — Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 10 July 2026
Definition of spark
Verb
  • The ruins of Dungeness, a 59-room, 37,000-square-foot estate house dating to the mid-1880s, once owned by Thomas Carnegie, brother and business partner of Pittsburgh steel magnate Andrew Carnegie.
    — Jennifer Peebles, AJC.com, 7 July 2026
  • When William began dating Kate Middleton, now known as Princess Kate, their duo became a trio, with Harry accompanying the lovebirds to official engagements and glitzy ceremonies as the flame-haired third wheel.
    — Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 6 July 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 11 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on romance

Nglish: Translation of romance for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about romance

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