significant others

noun

plural of significant other
as in partners
the person to whom another is married she has threatened to divorce her significant other if he doesn't stop gambling

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 significant others That’s when employees and their significant others started to leave the party. — Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2026 John’s wife, Tina, and their three children and significant others are scheduled to attend Friday night’s Yankees-Mets game in the Bronx. — Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026 Despite this, the couple divorced their significant others and married each other in November 2017. — Kalia Richardson, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026 Reportedly, their respective significant others unfollowed each other, and Bailey and Pankow unfollowed the other’s partner as well. — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 20 Aug. 2026 The 13 teams this time out include two women’s pro athletes, as well as the usual mix of siblings, parents and kids, BFFs and significant others. — Michael Schneider, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026 Here are 17 celebrities who helped fans propose to their significant others. — Lydia Price, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026 Sure, the golfers are up against the elements, but so are their significant others. — Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 26 July 2026 There were also special appearances by some of the cast's significant others at the time, such as David Arquette and Brad Pitt, whose performances took on a fun meta context. — Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 10 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for significant others
  1. partners
  2. spouses
  3. better halves
  4. husbands
Noun
  • The papers are said to have contained highly sensitive information, some likely supplied by Germany’s intelligence partners – so the affair could have serious international ramifications at a time when Europe is facing grave security threats.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 17 Oct. 2026
  • This week, Ukraine also did not receive advanced warning from partners of incoming ballistic missiles, resulting in civilian deaths, according to Ukrainian officials.
    — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of partners
Noun
  • In my experience, the likelihood that divorce will impact a business is high, especially when one (or both) of the divorcing spouses is active in it.
    — Catherine Shanahan, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • These women — cradle Catholics and converts, former nuns, teachers, hospice chaplains, counselors, spouses, mothers, grandmothers — say their defiance is the fulfillment of a vocation, no different than the call answered by their male counterparts.
    — Jonathan Bullington, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of spouses
Noun
  • Actors from hit shows such as The Pitt, Shrinking, The Bear, Pluribus took the opportunity to dress to nines and head for a fun night out with their better halves by their side.
    — Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of better halves
Noun
  • Brothers, husbands, mothers, children, grandparents—all were lost again and again in life, and then in death.
    — Daniel Barnum, Longreads, 15 Oct. 2026
  • But tensions brew in this village that could be out of a Grimms’ fairy tale, with local women (like Elizabeth Debicki) getting jealous and starting to wonder if their own husbands are lacking.
    — Kenneal Patterson, Vanity Fair, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of husbands

Browse Nearby Words

significant other
significant others
signification
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Cite this Entry

“Significant others.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/significant%20others. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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