What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
adulteress
Example
The novel's protagonist was portrayed as an adulteress who had an affair with her husband's best friend. [adulteress: noun]
Example
She was accused of being an adulteress after her husband found out about her affair. [adulteress: adjective]
paramour
Example
He left his wife for his paramour, whom he had been seeing for several months. [paramour: noun]
Example
She was his paramour for years before he finally divorced his wife and married her. [paramour: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Paramour is more commonly used in modern English compared to adulteress, which is considered archaic and outdated.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between adulteress and paramour?
Both adulteress and paramour are formal words that are not commonly used in everyday conversation. However, adulteress may be considered more formal due to its archaic nature and historical usage in literature.