paramours
Illicit romantic partners
Paramours are lovers, especially in the context of illicit or secret romantic relationships.
The word carries an old-fashioned, literary flavor and typically implies adultery or an affair outside marriage: She discovered her husband had been meeting his paramour at hotels across the city.
The singular paramour can refer to either a man or woman in such a relationship.
Romantic partners, affectionately named
- mistressesFemale lovers outside marriage
- loversRomantic partners
- consortsSpouses of rulers
- beausRomantic male pursuers
admirers · suitors · gallants · inamoratas · kept women · kept men · concubines · courtesans
Romantic pursuit of another
- flirtationPlayful romantic attention
- seductionEnticing someone romantically
- romanceLove and its excitement
- pursuitAct of chasing something
chasing · courting · serenade · love tokens · gifts · flowers · poetry · declarations
Intense emotional warmth
- desireIntense wanting
- longingIntense, persistent desire
- yearningIntense prolonged craving
- lustIntense carnal appetite
fervor · devotion · enchantment · infatuation · obsession · burning · craving · heat
Concealed from authorities
- covertIntentionally concealed
- furtiveSecretive and sly
- hiddenKept out of sight
- concealedMade invisible deliberately
discreet · trysts · rendezvous · assignations · liaisons · stolen moments · whispered · hushed
Married person's sexual betrayal
- cheatingDeceptive rule-breaking
- affairsMatters requiring attention
- extramaritalOutside the marriage bond
- unfaithfulnessBreach of romantic commitment
betrayal · two-timing · philandering · disloyalty · cuckoldry · deception · transgression · illicit
sweethearts
Romantic partners, affectionately named
- mistressesFemale lovers outside marriage
- loversRomantic partners
- consortsSpouses of rulers
beaus · admirers · suitors · gallants · inamoratas · kept women · kept men · concubines · courtesans · flames
wooing
Romantic pursuit of another
- flirtationPlayful romantic attention
- seductionEnticing someone romantically
- romanceLove and its excitement
pursuit · chasing · courting · serenade · love tokens · gifts · flowers · poetry · declarations · proposals
ardor
Intense emotional warmth
lust · fervor · devotion · enchantment · infatuation · obsession · burning · craving · heat · fire
clandestine
Concealed from authorities
concealed · discreet · trysts · rendezvous · assignations · liaisons · stolen moments · whispered · hushed · private
adultery
Married person's sexual betrayal
- cheatingDeceptive rule-breaking
- affairsMatters requiring attention
- extramaritalOutside the marriage bond
unfaithfulness · betrayal · two-timing · philandering · disloyalty · cuckoldry · deception · transgression · illicit · forbidden
- couplescouple, married couple, married couples, pair, twosome
- loverslover, lovers, beloved, sweethearts, sweetheart
- sexual customssexual norms, sexual taboos, marriage customs, courtship, virginity
paramoursspouses
Married partners
husbands · wives · married couples · betrothed · fiancés
paramoursenemies
Hostile opposing parties
adversaries · foes · antagonists · nemeses · rivals