affair

noun

ə-ˈfer How to pronounce affair (audio)
Definition of affairnext
1
as in romance
also affaire a brief romantic relationship an affair between two singles spending the summer at the same beach resort

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in event
a social gathering the annual country club dance is a really fancy affair

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3
as in production
something produced by physical or intellectual effort the lead float in the parade was a pretty impressive affair, a giant eagle's head with equally huge wings

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4
as in incident
something that happens the whole affair from start to finish took a total of 15 minutes

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5
as in matter
something to be dealt with it's none of your affair whom I'm going out with tonight

Synonyms & Similar 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 affair Evans asked the Red Cross if she could be deployed and had about 24-hours notice to get her affairs in order and pack her belongings. — Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026 Civilizationism asserts that the United States ought to interfere in Europe’s affairs. — Leonard A. Schuette, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2026 Nobody had been writing about affairs from that side of it — to go to the person who was trying to steal your man. — Devon Ivie, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2026 But what if there are female grooms-people at a black-tie affair? — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for affair
Recent Examples of Synonyms for affair
  1. romance
  2. event
  3. production
  4. incident
  5. matter
  6. fling
  7. party
  8. product
Noun
  • Their Mediterranean romance becomes complicated when Ry's mother becomes involved in a resort development threatening Julián's family's land.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • That casting was for Prime Video’s romance The Last Sunrise, based on author Anna Todd’s 2025 bestseller and released this Wednesday.
    — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of romance
Noun
  • More details on where the event will be held, who will speak and what makes the slate are due out in the coming weeks.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026
  • On its call with investors, management said the conference sold out in early August and is its largest pipeline-generation event of the year.
    — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of event
Noun
  • Rather than just a reproductive issue, endometriosis is a whole-body condition, affecting everything from emotional regulation to hormone production and gut health.
    — Bella Webb, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The heat has caused a fall in nuclear generation, with power plants forced to shut down or reduce production across the region, while wind power generation has been weak over the summer.
    — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of production
Noun
  • As more cars wrecked behind the incident, NASCAR was forced to throw the caution flag — freezing the field with Preece in front.
    — Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The teen, a standout player on his high school football team, remains behind bars over the alleged incident.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of incident
Noun
  • Conduct a Soil Test Taking samples of the soil from several places in the lawn will provide information about soil acidity (pH), nutrient levels, and organic matter content.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 29 Aug. 2026
  • From obscurity to the top of the football world, all in the matter of a few days.
    — Sam McDowell August 29, Kansas City Star, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of matter
Noun
  • Renata, post-divorce from her fraudster husband Gordon, takes up motorcycle lessons and a fling with a workout instructor.
    — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The 30-year-old actress is best known for her role as Kendall, the former fling of Garrett Graham (Belmont Cameli) in the Prime Video romantic drama series Off Campus.
    — Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of fling
Noun
  • But his record of publicly interacting with Piker — including at a pool party just before the primary — remains a sore point among some Michigan Democrats.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Back at school, Thom hangs out on the bleachers for a secret meeting with the creepy home invader from Robert’s party.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of party
Noun
  • Another win was with a European car maker that replaced its next-gen Endpoint Detection and Response, legacy SIEM, and legacy vulnerability management product with an eight-figure net-new Falcon Flex.
    — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Each has a king-size bed with a Casper mattress, custom The Henson robes and Frette towels, a frame TV, Marshall speakers, Grown Alchemist products, and a lot of natural light.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of product

Phrases Containing affair

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affably
affair
affairs
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Cite this Entry

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

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