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 Justyn Gonzalez and Alexandra Young share enjoyable comedy charm as a fumbling swain and the snappy-retorting object of his affections. — Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 12 May 2026 Between the romantic fantasy of Anna and her two swains, the swoony Tuscan locales bathed in creamy golden light, and the tomatoes, You, Me & Tuscany delivers everything its title promises. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 10 Apr. 2026 As the two lovers, Robin Wright as the comely princess and Cary Elwes as her loving swain are engaging and appealing. — Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2025 But in the new film, the unnamed swain has been replaced by a Robin Hood-style heartthrob named Jonathan (Andrew Burnap), who leads a defiant group of bandits that steals from the monarchy and gives to the poor.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 Odette is a shape-shifter, from woman to swan, under sorcerer Rothbart’s spell, only to be broken when a swain pledges true love to her—Siegfried to the rescue. — Guillermo Perez, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swain
  1. boyfriend
  2. lover
  3. beau
  4. suitor
  5. boy
  6. fellow
  7. man
Noun
  • Rashaun married her boyfriend Kyle Rehn on Valentine’s Day this year.
    — Greg Evans, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The 51-year-old former reality star took to TikTok on Thursday to celebrate her boyfriend Steve Neild’s birthday, and got support from her fans in the comments section.
    — Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of boyfriend
Noun
  • Now comes Netflix’s spin on the romantic comedy to end all romantic comedies, starring Emma Corrin and Jack Lowden as the characters at the center of literature’s original enemies-to-lovers trope.
    — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 5 Nov. 2026
  • While the drinks at Bastia, which are riffs on classic aperitivos and Italian-leaning cocktails, are excellent, cocktail lovers should pay a visit to Caletta, the hotel’s intimate 24-seat cocktail lounge.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of lover
Noun
  • The Tennessee native married her Teen Mom costar and longtime beau Taylor McKinney in October 2016.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Still, Kardashian will reportedly continue showing up for her new beau.
    — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of beau
Noun
  • The bow, preserved by Janaka’s royal dynasty, is so unyielding that no suitor has yet succeeded in stringing it.
    — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Twenty years later, Elizabeth (Roden) is spending Christmas at Biltmore and this time is accompanied by James (Trevena), a suitor her Aunt Maysilee (MacDowell) is keen for her to wed.
    — Rachel LaBonte, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of suitor
Noun
  • Told without the participation of a single male actor, The Women turned Hollywood’s all-boys club on its head, becoming a major hit in a year dominated by Gone With the Wind and The Wizard of Oz.
    — Raymond Ang, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2026
  • After teenage boys first reported that they had been abused in 2005, Church of the Resurrection conducted an internal investigation that court records show was inconclusive.
    — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of boy
Noun
  • Tom Wright was senior director for strategic planning at the National Security Council under Joe Biden and is now a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.
    — Kori Schake, Foreign Affairs, 5 Nov. 2026
  • But injuries to fellow wideouts Tyquan Thorton and Rashee Rice, plus Allen’s own development, have expanded his role.
    — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of fellow
Noun
  • The Missouri Tigers made an emphatic statement to start the 2026-27 men’s basketball season with a 111-50 win over Cleveland State.
    — PJ Green November 3, Kansas City Star, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Both men have traversed the district for town halls and rallies.
    — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026
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 6 Nov. 2026.

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