homewreckers
Marriage destroyers, often
Homewreckers is the plural of homewrecker—a person who breaks up a marriage or family, typically by having an affair with one partner.
The term carries strong moral judgment, usually directed at the outside party rather than the unfaithful spouse: She's known around town as a homewrecker.
Less commonly, homewrecker describes anything that damages domestic life.
Romantic entanglement outside commitment
- adulteryMarried person's sexual betrayal
- cheatingDeceptive rule-breaking
- mistressIllicit female lover
- paramourLover in secret affair
lover · extramarital · liaison · tryst · seduction · fling · clandestine · unfaithful
Separated or divorced relatives
- divorceLegal end of matrimony
- separationState of being apart
- custodyProtective care or control
- turmoilViolent disturbance or confusion
upheaval · displacement · destabilization · fracture · rupture · discord · interference · intrusion
Breaking of trust
- anguishIntense mental suffering
- devastationSevere widespread destruction
- griefIntense sorrow from loss
- sorrowDeep emotional distress
rejection · heartache · pain · trauma · loss · despair · loneliness · emptiness
Claim someone did wrong
- culpabilityDeserving blame for wrongdoing
- faultImperfection or blame
- scapegoatUnfairly blamed person
- finger-pointingAssigning blame openly
vilification · condemnation · judgment · reproach · stigma · disgrace · shame · ostracism
Sensationalist newspaper format
- gossipInformal talk spreading rumors
- exposéInvestigative journalism piece
- sensationalismOverhyped news coverage
- notorietyFame from misdeeds
controversy · indiscretion · headline · sleaze · whispers · rumor · public humiliation · celebrity scandal
affair
Romantic entanglement outside commitment
paramour · lover · extramarital · liaison · tryst · seduction · fling · clandestine · unfaithful · deceit
broken family
Separated or divorced relatives
- divorceLegal end of matrimony
- separationState of being apart
- custodyProtective care or control
turmoil · upheaval · displacement · destabilization · fracture · rupture · discord · interference · intrusion · torn apart
betrayal
Breaking of trust
- anguishIntense mental suffering
- devastationSevere widespread destruction
- griefIntense sorrow from loss
sorrow · rejection · heartache · pain · trauma · loss · despair · loneliness · emptiness · mourning
accusation
Claim someone did wrong
- culpabilityDeserving blame for wrongdoing
- faultImperfection or blame
- scapegoatUnfairly blamed person
finger-pointing · vilification · condemnation · judgment · reproach · stigma · disgrace · shame · ostracism · censure
tabloid
Sensationalist newspaper format
- gossipInformal talk spreading rumors
- exposéInvestigative journalism piece
- sensationalismOverhyped news coverage
notoriety · controversy · indiscretion · headline · sleaze · whispers · rumor · public humiliation · celebrity scandal · media frenzy