two-timing 1 of 3

as in adulterous
relating to or being a sexual encounter or relationship between a married person and someone other than their spouse her husband's compulsive two-timing behavior is the reason she left

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

two-timing

2 of 3

noun

two-timing

3 of 3

verb

present participle of two-time

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 two-timing
Adjective
With Kate Sprague, the two-timing wife of Rhode Island governor William Sprague, on his arm (the Spragues would divorce a year later as news of their affair spread), Roscoe Conkling turns up to remind James Blaine that his support for Garfield’s campaign comes with a fee. Scott Tobias, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
Audiences had not responded well to Schmidt’s two-timing Cece and Elizabeth, and a dark cloud hovered around the network’s growing frustration over New Girl’s slipping ratings. Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 21 July 2026 Both albums get scathingly honest about two-timing exes. Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 27 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for two-timing
Adjective
  • Fiction is inherently adulterous.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Apr. 2026
  • But the gamesmanship, foreshadowing the adulterous antics of Harold Pinter’s plays, escalates perilously.
    Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • For one thing covetousness, as opposed to the more concrete sins like theft or murder or adultery, is a thought crime, and almost all that goes on here, happens within the minds of the characters.
    Jessica Kiang, Variety, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Its citizens held slaves, some of whom were shackled for committing adultery.
    Boris Kachka, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • This included finding stretches of joy amid the pain, and coming to understand her flaws without judgment or fear; in all that, the movie reveals how Tessa could’ve fallen for a charming guy like Julian before his violent betrayal.
    David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2026
  • When the crown proves capable of betrayal, Garfield sees the break as spiritual as much as political.
    JP Mangalindan, Time, 11 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • If some umpires have treated Vitello differently than other managers, then that’s a poor reflection on them for betraying their impartiality.
    Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The viral moment became a topic of conversation for weeks after the show wrapped, with Rausch also gifting her a Birkin Bag as an apology for betraying her on the show.
    ABC News, ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • This status quo starts to change when Ruthie gets pregnant via extramarital affair and moves to New York to figure out her life.
    Alison Herman, Variety, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The book, and subsequently the movie, follow Diana’s extramarital affair with her former riding instructor, Captain James Hewitt.
    Giovana Gelhoren, InStyle, 23 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Almost a quarter of the agents (24%) refused to cheat and tried to alert others to the cheating in the hopes of stopping it.
    Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Afterward, the internet went wild with accusations of cheating, nepotism, and more.
    K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 28 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Was there a whiff of treachery among this crew, someone who might betray them to the Germans?
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 31 Aug. 2026
  • For his treachery in conspiring with Gwayne, Daemon claims Corlys as his own prisoner.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Bow School District soon issued no-trespass orders that banned Fellers and Anthony Foote from entering district property or attending sporting or other extracurricular events.
    BrieAnna J. Frank, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
  • These follow-up costs can include extracurricular activities, meal programs, fundraisers and other school fees.
    Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 25 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Two-timing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/two-timing. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster