as in mistresses
a female other than his wife with whom a married man has a continuing sexual relationship
the offspring of one of the monarch's concubines
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Recent Examples of concubines
But experts say the male-only succession system is structurally flawed and only worked previously thanks to the help of concubines who, until about 100 years ago, produced imperial children.
—
Mari Yamaguchi,
Twin Cities,
6 Sep. 2025
Some of them were married (or given as concubines) to Inca nobles, others became priestesses, and some ended up as human sacrifices.
—
ArsTechnica,
14 Aug. 2025
Royal gardens, peeling frescoes, and tiled mosaics are breathtaking in their beauty, but the zenith of any visit is a wander through the sultan’s harem, once home to hundreds of concubines and their eunuch guards.
—
Ashlea Halpern,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Dec. 2018
Mari Yamaguchi,
Twin Cities,
6 Sep. 2025
Some of them were married (or given as concubines) to Inca nobles, others became priestesses, and some ended up as human sacrifices.
—
ArsTechnica,
14 Aug. 2025
Royal gardens, peeling frescoes, and tiled mosaics are breathtaking in their beauty, but the zenith of any visit is a wander through the sultan’s harem, once home to hundreds of concubines and their eunuch guards.
—
Ashlea Halpern,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Dec. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for concubines
Noun
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On the other hand, Dunaway and her tart-talking sidekick, Brenda Vaccaro, seem to be having the time of their lives as mistresses of the shades of darkness (their ramshackle abode is a funhouse Ghost Train ride festooned with skeletons, spiders and tattered netting).
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The multiple mistresses ruined his image; the countless injuries derailed his golf game.
Noun
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Wine lovers should consider hitting some stops on the Great River Road Wine Trail, especially Danzinger Vineyards on the bluff in Alma.
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The track went viral on TikTok earlier this year, with longtime lovers of the musician remembering the hit, while younger fans may have discovered it for the first time.
Cite this Entry
“Concubines.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/concubines. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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