adulteress
/ə'dʌltəris/
Definition
- Noun:
- A woman who commits adultery: An "adulteress" is a married woman who voluntarily has sexual intercourse with a man who is not her husband, or, more broadly, a woman who engages in extramarital sex. The term is specifically gendered and carries a strong negative moral judgment.
Usage
- The word "adulteress" is a formal and dated term. It is often considered archaic, judgmental, and sexist in modern usage, as it is not commonly applied to men in an equivalent form ("adulterer" is the general term for any person who commits adultery). It is primarily found in historical, religious, or literary contexts.
Examples
- Noun:
- In the classic novel, the character was publicly shunned as an adulteress.
- The law, as described in the old text, prescribed severe punishment for an adulteress.
Advanced Usage
- Historical/Literary Context: The term is frequently used in discussions of historical social norms, religious texts (like the Bible), or classic literature to describe a woman accused of infidelity.
- The story revolves around the tragic fate of a suspected adulteress in a strict Puritan community.
Variants and Related Words
- Adulterer (noun): A person, regardless of gender, who commits adultery. This is the more common and less gendered modern term.
- The scandal exposed him as an adulterer.
- Adultery (noun): The act of voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and someone who is not their spouse.
- She filed for divorce on the grounds of adultery.
- Adulterous (adjective): Characterized by or involving adultery.
- They were involved in an adulterous affair.
Synonyms
- Cheater: (Informal) A person who is unfaithful to their partner.
- Unfaithful wife: A more descriptive and less archaic phrase.
- Woman who commits adultery: A neutral, descriptive phrase.
Notes on Usage and Connotation
- The term "adulteress" is heavily loaded and often implies societal condemnation. In contemporary English, it is generally avoided in favor of more neutral language (e.g., "she had an affair," "she was unfaithful"). Its use today typically signals a deliberate choice to evoke a specific historical, legal, or moralistic tone.
Noun
-
a woman adulterer
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