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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in incident
something that happens
the whole affair from start to finish took a total of 15 minutes
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in matter
something to be dealt with
it's none of your affair whom I'm going out with tonight
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of affair
Eventually, the area in the Pentagon where reporters were allowed was circumscribed to a single corridor outside the press room – even though the public affairs officers who worked most closely with reporters were in an office on the other side of the 6½-million-square-foot building.
—
Kathy Kiely, The Conversation, 17 Mar. 2026
Still, the letter's authors — border czar Tom Homan and James Braid, the White House director of legislative affairs — argued the administration has tried to negotiate in good faith to end the funding impasse.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026
Esteves joins as senior director of creative affairs, kids and family, and will support Boat Rocker’s original animation slate through creative development, pre-sales, current series and production.
—Kennedy French, Variety, 17 Mar. 2026
Eventually, the restaurant became a family affair involving their daughter and five sons.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for affair
Kathy Kiely, The Conversation, 17 Mar. 2026
Still, the letter's authors — border czar Tom Homan and James Braid, the White House director of legislative affairs — argued the administration has tried to negotiate in good faith to end the funding impasse.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026
Esteves joins as senior director of creative affairs, kids and family, and will support Boat Rocker’s original animation slate through creative development, pre-sales, current series and production.
—Kennedy French, Variety, 17 Mar. 2026
Eventually, the restaurant became a family affair involving their daughter and five sons.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for affair
Recent Examples of Synonyms for affair
Noun
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Readers send Miss Manners not only their table and party questions, but those involving the more complicated aspects of life - romance, work, family relationships, child-rearing, death - as well as philosophical and moral dilemmas.—
Judith Martin,
Dallas Morning News,
20 Mar. 2026
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That all unfortunately overshadows the palpable affection Gosling and Emma Stone have in their second of three movie romances, and even Gosling’s playboy charisma gets dulled a bit.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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During Monday’s event, the company presented a $50,000 donation and pledging 500 volunteer hours to Nourish Up, formerly Fishes & Loaves, a nonprofit addressing food insecurity for Charlotte families.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Mar. 2026
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The eight-team event begins with quarterfinal games April 1-2 at MGM Grand Garden Arena.—
Laurence Miedema,
Mercury News,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
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With increasing demand for modern defense systems worldwide, investments like this expansion are considered essential for maintaining reliable production and supply.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Mar. 2026
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According to a report by the Korean outlet Donga, citing industry sources and insiders, Samsung may have recently finished Galaxy Z TriFold production and is now selling through its current stock.—
James Peckham,
PC Magazine,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The department gave the following details about the incident, noting that no police officers fired weapons or were injured.—
Kristi Miller,
Twin Cities,
16 Mar. 2026
-
There is an incident on I-35 between 20th Street/Exit 1D (SB) and I-70/US-169/US-24/Exit 2.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The United States was informed about Israel's plans to strike the South Pars natural gas field but did not take part in it, according to a person familiar with the matter.—
DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS,
Arkansas Online,
19 Mar. 2026
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The inquiry into Kent’s alleged mishandling of classified information reportedly predates his resignation, according to multiple people with knowledge of the matter, Semafor first reported.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Aside from an ongoing fling with one of her employees (Rome Flynn), she’s remained unpartnered.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
18 Mar. 2026
-
There was even a brief fling with an Arab guy there.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Much of Sunday night featured a baseball game played in the middle of a concert put on by a dozen marching bands playing at 100 birthday parties.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
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The president is fighting against historical headwinds for the party in power and, like President Joe Biden before him, is navigating voter anxiety about the cost of living in America.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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This achievement can only be the product of an obsessive, near-philosophical approach to the sandwich as a composition, to the gestalt of the bite.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2026
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The company develops and makes products for civilian and military use, such as drone technologies used by Ukraine's armed forces in the fight against the Russian invasion.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Affair.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affair. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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