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
  • Her adultery story initially evokes the imprisoned girl’s compensatory reveries, but over time its focus shifts.
    Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The name has Biblical undertones and refers to a theory that Adam (of Adam and Eve) had a first wife named Lilith, who committed adultery with Satan and transformed into an evil being who kidnaps children.
    Katie Mather, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026
Noun
  • Jessica transforms the betrayal of a generation taught that work would protect them into visceral cinema, where illness cracks the skin while luxury masks collapse.
    Marta Balaga, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
  • This hardly is the first instance of the betrayal of that trust.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • One of the spirits was Sinon, who was upset with Odysseus for betraying him and not telling him the Trojan Horse plan.
    Tanya Fedak, Variety, 18 July 2026
  • In Homer’s poem, they’re accused of betraying Odysseus’ household by serving — and, in some cases, sleeping with — the suitors courting Penelope.
    Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 18 July 2026
Adjective
  • Twain and Marie-Anne became close friends, and Twain was shocked to learn that Marie-Anne and Lange had been allegedly carrying on an extramarital affair—losing both her husband and her best friend in one fell swoop.
    Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 31 July 2026
  • Homer’s hero has extramarital affairs with goddesses Circe and Calypso — the latter of whom traps him and forces him to sleep with her each night for seven years.
    Tom Tapp, Deadline, 27 July 2026
Noun
  • One particular moment that stood out to me had nothing to do with cheating.
    Brittney Melton, NPR, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Many schools are focused on establishing clear guidelines for AI use while also limiting cellphone use during class to reduce distractions and cheating.
    Ruyuan Li, Sacbee.com, 5 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Guides spoke of the monthlong siege that ended only because of the treachery of a local noble who turned on the sultan and allowed British troops to scale the walls.
    Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 2 July 2026
  • This is not treachery but the truest and noblest affection.
    Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026
Adjective
  • Sure, your child can make a friend at an extracurricular activity.
    Kara Alaimo, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Anderson is well known throughout the locker room for getting the extracurricular post-whistle activity going.
    Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 4 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 9 Aug. 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