dalliance
Fleeting romantic entanglement
Dalliance is a brief, casual romantic or sexual involvement—something lighter than an affair, suggesting playfulness rather than passion: a summer dalliance.
The word can also mean idle dawdling or wasting time: After years of dalliance, he finally committed to finishing the novel.
Both senses carry a note of frivolity.
Leisurely time-wasting
- lingeringRemaining beyond expected duration
- loiteringPurposeless public lingering
- tarryingRemaining beyond expected time
- procrastinationHabitual task avoidance
idling · puttering · trifling · frittering · lollygagging · dithering · hesitation · stalling
Playful amorous behavior
- flirtationPlayful romantic attention
- teaseMock playfully
- banterPlayful, teasing exchange
- winkBrief one-eyed closure
come-on · innuendo · coyness · allure · enticement · wooing · advances · gallantry
Forceful toss, or tryst
- trystSecret romantic meeting
- liaisonConnector between groups
- rendezvousScheduled meeting at agreed location
- hookupCasual sexual encounter
romance · infatuation · paramour · assignation · entanglement · intrigue · indiscretion · amour
Recreational pursuit
- amusementPleased entertainment state
- distractionThing diverting one's attention
- diversionRedirection of attention
- entertainmentAgreeable diversion of attention
recreation · dabbling · trifle · whim · lark · fancy · caprice · frivolity
dawdling
Leisurely time-wasting
- lingeringRemaining beyond expected duration
- loiteringPurposeless public lingering
- tarryingRemaining beyond expected time
procrastination · idling · puttering · trifling · frittering · lollygagging · dithering · hesitation · stalling · meandering
coquetry
Playful amorous behavior
- flirtationPlayful romantic attention
- teaseMock playfully
- banterPlayful, teasing exchange
wink · come-on · innuendo · coyness · allure · enticement · wooing · advances · gallantry · playfulness
fling
Forceful toss, or tryst
- trystSecret romantic meeting
- liaisonConnector between groups
- rendezvousScheduled meeting at agreed location
hookup · romance · infatuation · paramour · assignation · entanglement · intrigue · indiscretion · amour · interlude
pastime
Recreational pursuit
- amusementPleased entertainment state
- distractionThing diverting one's attention
- diversionRedirection of attention
entertainment · recreation · dabbling · trifle · whim · lark · fancy · caprice · frivolity · toying
- romancelove story, amor, love, boyfriend, courting
- infidelityadultery, affair, adulteress, cheating, cheater
- marital problemsinfidelity, adultery, cheating, affair, divorce
- promiscuitypromiscuity, sleeping around, casual sex, hookups, one-night stands
- seductionseduction, seductive, allure, beguilement, enticement
- sexual sinsfornication, adultery, lust, lechery, lewdness
dalliancedevotion
Deep, loyal commitment
commitment · fidelity · lasting love · marriage · faithfulness
dallianceduty
Required moral task
obligation · work · responsibility · labor · drudgery