bedfellow
noun
bed·fel·low
ˈbed-ˌfe-(ˌ)lō 
1
: one who shares a bed with another
2
: a person or thing closely associated with another : ally
political bedfellows
—often used in the phrase strange bedfellows to describe an unlikely alliance of people or thingsPolitics indeed makes strange bedfellows and on the issue of local regulation of pesticides, environmental and states' rights advocates have joined forces.—
Elena S. Rutrick
Elena S. RutrickPolities and good architecture are strange bedfellows, but in Barcelona the marriage has worked.—Cathleen McGuigan
Cathleen McGuiganSynonyms
Examples of bedfellow in a Sentence
a child-welfare cause that has made bedfellows of activists who are normally on opposite ends of the political spectrum
Recent Examples on the Web
The sweet and the spicy make for nice bedfellows on the plate.
—Amy Drew Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 28 June 2024
Action, comedy, and absurdity were already familiar bedfellows, but Hustle revitalized that union and incorporated visual effects that could make such hyperbolic action look more seamless than ever.
—Vikram Murthi, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2024
Evil Does Not Exist rings unnervingly true in its particulars, from the bizarre bedfellows created by modern capitalism to the quiet contempt with which city folk treat poorer villagers.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 4 June 2024
Joining the federal government are D.C. and 29 states, ranging from New York, Connecticut and Rhode Island to Texas, Wyoming and Oklahoma, odd bedfellows that much more frequently find themselves on opposite sides of litigation and political issues.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 24 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for bedfellow 
Amy Drew Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 28 June 2024
Action, comedy, and absurdity were already familiar bedfellows, but Hustle revitalized that union and incorporated visual effects that could make such hyperbolic action look more seamless than ever.
—Vikram Murthi, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2024
Evil Does Not Exist rings unnervingly true in its particulars, from the bizarre bedfellows created by modern capitalism to the quiet contempt with which city folk treat poorer villagers.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 4 June 2024
Joining the federal government are D.C. and 29 states, ranging from New York, Connecticut and Rhode Island to Texas, Wyoming and Oklahoma, odd bedfellows that much more frequently find themselves on opposite sides of litigation and political issues.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 24 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for bedfellow
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bedfellow.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to bedfellow
Dictionary Entries Near bedfellow
Cite this Entry
“Bedfellow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bedfellow. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bedfellow
noun
bed·fel·low
ˈbed-ˌfel-ō
: one who shares a bed with another
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share