romance 1 of 2

noun

rō-ˈman(t)s How to pronounce romance (audio)
Definition of romancenext
as in affair
a brief romantic relationship an office romance that ended with hurt feelings on both sides

Synonyms & Similar Words

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romance

2 of 2

verb

as in to woo

Related 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 romance
Noun
Beneath the serious exchange of ideas there was romance as well—at times tragic and at other times comical. — Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026 Shonda Rhimes and Nicholas Nardini will write and serve as showrunners on the limited series, which will tell the story of young Lady Violet’s romance with her future husband, Viscount Edmund Bridgerton. — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
Verb
In 1973, Boyd had an affair with Ronnie Wood, while Harrison did the same with Wood’s wife, and Harrison also later romanced Ringo Starr’s wife, Maureen Cox. — Radhika Seth, Vogue, 19 Dec. 2025 Anthony Geary, the thoughtful General Hospital actor who as the complex Luke Spencer raped and romanced Genie Francis’ Laura Webber Baldwin on the way to an unprecedented eight Daytime Emmy Awards and soap opera superstardom, has died. — Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 15 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for romance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for romance
  1. affair
  2. woo
  3. fling
  4. spark
  5. date
Noun
  • The Butcher, The Baker, The Cappuccino Maker is the kind of bistro that perfectly captures the casual LA vibe while Cavatina is a more dressed up affair and perfect for date night.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • In recent months, there's been the Epstein affair, and, in France, scandals surrounding after-school programs are piling up.
    — Baptiste Mandrillon, Time, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of affair
Verb
  • For years now, hotels have been spending more and more on signature fragrances to woo and hook guests.
    — Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
  • When asked who might be the greatest thinker in America, the boy immediately suggests Professor Jacob Barnhardt (Sam Jaffe), an Albert Einstein analogue who's wooed by Klaatu's solutions to a particularly tricksy math equation.
    — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of woo
Noun
  • The Faith Tour aims to document his brief fling with arena stardom.
    — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The second, 2015’s Catastrophe, is a two-hander performed by co-creators Horgan and Rob Delaney, in which their characters (also named Sharon and Rob) grapple with a surprise pregnancy after a brief fling.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of fling
Verb
  • The killing of a woman in Okinawa has sparked an outcry across Japan and inflamed long-simmering tensions over the US military presence on the island.
    — Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The setback sparked wide speculation that Sánchez would move forward the general election and use the momentum on the housing issue against his right-wing opponents.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of spark
Verb
  • Bishop’s Lodge dates to the 1860s when Santa Fe’s first archbishop, Bishop Jean Baptiste Lamy, built a chapel and private residence here.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • West and Kim Kardashian began dating in 2012 and tied the knot with a 2014 ceremony in Italy.
    — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of date

Browse Nearby Words

roly-poly
romance
romanced
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Romance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/romance. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on romance

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about romance

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