swain

noun

ˈswān How to pronounce swain (audio)
Definition of swainnext
1
as in boyfriend
a male romantic companion a romanticized portrait of a bygone era of beauteous Southern belles and their gallant swains

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in lover
a man who courts a woman usually with the goal of marrying her Grandma claims that she had several swains pursuing her, but it was only Grandpa who won her heart

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of swain But in the new film, the unnamed swain has been replaced by a Robin Hood-style heartthrob named Jonathan (Andrew Burnap), who leads a defiant group of bandits that steals from the monarchy and gives to the poor. — Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2025 Science emerges as a version of the pastoral, with the physicist as swain. — Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024 The British actor finds the humor and sensitivity in his lustful swain, and his mellifluous voice is perfectly matched to Shakespeare’s prose. — Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swain
  1. boyfriend
  2. lover
  3. beau
  4. suitor
  5. fellow
  6. man
Noun
  • The result was harassment of Cornett, her boyfriend, and their families.
    — Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Natalia and her boyfriend reached out to Nicole and Vincent DePaul, a couple with dwarfism who had tried to adopt her in 2009 but were unable to due to financial constraints.
    — Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of boyfriend
Noun
  • And cinemas aren’t just offering that kind of enhanced blockbuster experience to bring in crowds beyond die-hard movie lovers.
    — William Earl, Variety, 27 Mar. 2025
  • That's just the type of news Scotch lovers need in these uncertain times.
    — Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Definition of lover
Noun
  • More than a decade later, Stiller now counts Swift’s beau as a costar.
    — Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Alessandra Ambrosio is feeling the love with her new beau Buck Palmer!
    — Escher Walcott, People.com, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of beau
Noun
  • Gaga rejects a string of Latin suitors — Alejandro, Fernando, Roberto — via melodies that evoke ABBA and Madonna, over a thumping beat, like Ace of Base gone EDM.
    — Kristen S. Hé, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2025
  • This, as Sanders understood, was largely why Hufanga picked Denver over a slew of other suitors, the safety signing a three-year deal in a massive offseason upgrade to the Broncos’ secondary.
    — Luca Evans, The Denver Post, 16 Mar. 2025
Definition of suitor
Noun
  • In 2021, Mishal Reja, M.D., was an incoming gastroenterology fellow at State University of New York, Downstate and contributor to the ABC News Medical Unit.
    — Dr. Mishal Reja, ABC News, 3 Apr. 2025
  • As a franchisor in the senior care industry, for example, building relationships with healthcare professionals and fellow franchise owners can provide crucial insights into best practices for efficiencies and growth opportunities.
    — Pete First, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of fellow
Noun
  • Nash retired from basketball in 2014 but then served as the general manager for the Canadian men's national team and became the coaching consultant with the Golden State Warriors.
    — Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
  • Ex-central banker to replace Trudeau as Canada’s prime minister after winning Liberal Party vote 12 people injured by 3 men shooting randomly at Toronto pub customers Amid Trump threats, Canada to name a new leader.
    — Andreas Kluth, The Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of man

Browse Nearby Words

swags
swain
swains
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Cite this Entry

“Swain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swain. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.

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