secret affair
Clandestine romantic entanglement
A secret affair is a romantic or sexual relationship conducted in concealment, typically because one or both parties are committed to someone else.
The secrecy distinguishes it from open relationships or casual dating—the affair must be hidden from spouses, partners, or the public: Their secret affair lasted three years before his wife discovered the emails.
The phrase carries connotations of betrayal and forbidden passion.
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- forbiddenNot allowed
- loverRomantic intimate
- trystSecret romantic meeting
- rendezvousScheduled meeting at agreed location
stolen glances · infidelity · cheating · double life · whispers · stolen · hidden · passion · betrayal · lipstick · lipstick stain · hotel · hotel room · midnight · desire · guilt · lies · sneaking
- romancelove story, amor, love, boyfriend, courting
- soap opera plotsbetrayal, jealousy, love triangle, scandal, revenge plot
- forbidden loveforbidden love, forbidden romance, illicit love, forbidden fruit, star-crossed
- infidelityadultery, adulteress, cheating, cheater, unfaithful
- romance novelsbodice ripper, Harlequin, happily ever after, rake, historical romance
- affairs
secret affairopen relationship
Consensual romantic nonexclusivity
open marriage · out in the open · going public · Facebook official
secret affairmarriage
Formal union between partners
holy matrimony · wedlock · matrimony · civil union · church wedding
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