It is so widely thrown about as an excuse because there doesn’t actually exist any universal definition of “love.”
What exactly is this “love” anyway?
To some, late-night calls and hours of texting is a way to express “love.” To others, showering gifts and praises, writing poems, flirting, living together, sharing private moments, going out on dates, opening up and sharing secrets, and whatnot.
The things that constitute as “love” are so variable that these cheaters get a free pass to say,” because I did (insert a definition of love) with him/her, I loved him/her” and therefore, my infidelity is less of a mistake than it would have been, had I not “loved” him/her.
What they don’t realize is that they have broken the one and only pillar that holds a long term relationship- Trust!
Though love can come in many forms and expressions, trust is sacrosanct. It has a universal definition and can’t be twisted and turned into something that suits one’s narrative. And cheating means the end of the trust. Over. There’s nothing more to add to that.
Love is like paint, which makes a house look good, aesthetically. It wears down with time and needs to be rekindled for the house to look good. But the house can stand on its own for centuries if possible without the paint being replaced. Trust is the foundation of the house, no foundation, no house.