adultery

noun

ə-ˈdəl-t(ə-)rē How to pronounce adultery (audio)
Definition of adulterynext
as in cheating
a sexual encounter or relationship between a married person and someone other than their spouse adultery is the cause of many divorces

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 adultery Odysseus… kinda ends up being your standard Noble Hero, complete with Modestly Badass Armor and Aragorn Beard Scruff and in absolutely no danger of (knowingly) committing adultery against his faithful wife waiting for him back home. — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 21 July 2026 In the graphic sequence, Lannister is forced to walk naked through the streets as punishment for committing adultery. — Edward Segarra, USA Today, 17 July 2026 Hundreds of pages of filings in a civil lawsuit and countersuit detail allegations of fraud and elder abuse, years of adultery, and a battle for property, luxury sports cars and cash. — Amber Gaudet, Charlotte Observer, 10 July 2026 Under the law, moral offenses — including adultery and same-sex relations — can carry penalties of up to 100 lashes. — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for adultery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adultery
  1. cheating
  2. misconduct
  3. infidelity
Noun
  • Nearly all are requiring ethics courses along the way — as educators continue to grapple with cheating and with fears that heavy AI use will erode critical thinking.
    — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Still another cheating method under consideration was to gain access to the Internet, where the agents could do research.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of cheating
Noun
  • Likewise, the fact that somebody correctly anticipated an announcement and made money does not by itself prove misconduct.
    — Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Illinois does not have independent watchdogs investigating fraud, waste, abuse, misconduct or neglect in state government, agencies or public programs.
    — Collin Corbett, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of misconduct
Noun
  • Decades later, the first couple of rock and roll briefly split in 2016 after rumors of infidelity, but reconciled shortly thereafter.
    — Grace Gavilanes, PEOPLE, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Gripped by a paralyzing fear for the fate of her future children, Naama returns to the same monument where the infidelity took place; there, her parents appear before her.
    — Katie Campione, Deadline, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of infidelity

Browse Nearby Words

adulterous
adultery
adulthood
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Cite this Entry

“Adultery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adultery. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on adultery

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about adultery

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