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 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 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 See All Example Sentences for adultery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adultery
  1. cheating
  2. misconduct
  3. infidelity
Noun
  • The league urged the Supreme Court to resolve the split, arguing that conflicting rulings leave oversight unclear and raise concerns about cheating, insider trading, and consumer protection.
    — Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Parents, educators and child development experts have been sounding alarms over children’s use of AI chatbots, which have been blamed for facilitating cheating on schoolwork and even suicide.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of cheating
Noun
  • The reports come after misconduct findings against some interfraternity chapters in the spring and multiple criminal investigations, according to the letter.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Oct. 2026
  • British police acknowledged applying for the warrants under the wrong statutory provision, the judge said while stipulating that the misconduct investigation against the king's brother could continue.
    — Steve Hendrix, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of misconduct
Noun
  • Sure, that sounds ridiculous for a season about rape, infidelity, mass murder, suicide, and society’s ruthless commodification of those very things.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The 82-year-old actor writes candidly about infidelity, addiction, his son’s imprisonment and his battle with oral cancer, while reflecting on the costs of a life in show business and his love for California.
    — Maddie Connors, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 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 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on adultery

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about adultery

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