as in marriage
a union representing a special kind of social and legal partnership between two people
joined the happy couple in holy wedlock
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Recent Examples of wedlock
American cities went into decay, rising crime rates, rising divorce rates, more kids born out of wedlock.
—
David Frum, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2026
Born out of wedlock to a celebrated general, Hedda’s father has left her with only his opulent, Chekhovian gun collection and a precarious foothold in high society.
—Abby Monteil, Them., 28 Oct. 2025
In 1918, Soviet women were given the right to higher education, equal pay, no-fault civil divorce, child support (including for children born out of wedlock), paid maternity leave, and access to free maternity hospitals.
—Julia Ioffe, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2025
The vehement characters DiCaprio and Taylor inhabit end up having a daughter out of wedlock during a time where their society is on the brink of anarchy.
—Essence, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wedlock
David Frum, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2026
Born out of wedlock to a celebrated general, Hedda’s father has left her with only his opulent, Chekhovian gun collection and a precarious foothold in high society.
—Abby Monteil, Them., 28 Oct. 2025
In 1918, Soviet women were given the right to higher education, equal pay, no-fault civil divorce, child support (including for children born out of wedlock), paid maternity leave, and access to free maternity hospitals.
—Julia Ioffe, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2025
The vehement characters DiCaprio and Taylor inhabit end up having a daughter out of wedlock during a time where their society is on the brink of anarchy.
—Essence, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wedlock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wedlock
marriage
Noun
-
Ozzy Osbourne is survived by six children from two marriages.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Love Is Blind has produced several marriages since premiering in 2020.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wedlock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wedlock. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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