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
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Recent Examples of swain
Similar to the Broadway musical, the new movie ends with Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and her strawman swain Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) walking into the sunset away from Oz, after the revelation that Elphaba staged her own melting death by hiding under a trapdoor.
—
Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 22 Nov. 2025
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But in the new film, the unnamed swain has been replaced by a Robin Hood-style heartthrob named Jonathan (Andrew Burnap), who leads a defiant group of bandits that steals from the monarchy and gives to the poor.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
Kramer, once again showing infinite tact, dissuaded the swain.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Dec. 2023
Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 22 Nov. 2025
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But in the new film, the unnamed swain has been replaced by a Robin Hood-style heartthrob named Jonathan (Andrew Burnap), who leads a defiant group of bandits that steals from the monarchy and gives to the poor.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
Kramer, once again showing infinite tact, dissuaded the swain.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Dec. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swain
Noun
-
Meanwhile, Victoria has been dating boyfriend Brandt Andersen.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
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Evie’s eccentric family also featured, including fiercely loving single mum Suz (Suranne Jones), sister Izzie (Liv Hill), boyfriend Josh (Adam Long), and frustrating neighbor Callum (Owen Cooper).—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
11 May 2026
Noun
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History buffs, avid hikers, music lovers, wine aficionados, and beach bums will all find a town to love in the Old Dominion.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
9 May 2026
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In addition to being sun lovers, many of the species on this list are heat- and drought-tolerant.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
9 May 2026
Noun
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While on vacation in Tokyo with her kids and new beau Lewis Hamilton, Kardashian snapped a goofy selfie with her baby boy.—
Brendan Le,
PEOPLE,
9 May 2026
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Lothar’s hackles were raised when Silvia’s beau made antisemitic remarks—and mentioned that his father, Ricardo Klement, had served under Adolf Hitler.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 May 2026
Noun
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There won’t be a shortage of suitors, if Alvarez is made available.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
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Kerfoot has expressed a desire to keep the team in Vancouver, but of the 40 or so potential suitors who have expressed interest in buying the club, most have turned away after taking a look at the team’s finances.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
Noun
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While the wife embraces their animatronic offspring, her husband keeps a wary distance, unconvinced that the android has any connection to their boy.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
12 May 2026
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Cartersville’s boys and Harris County’s girls won their first state championships in track and field Monday at Georgia’s Spec Towns Track in Athens.—
Todd Holcomb,
AJC.com,
12 May 2026
Noun
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Richardson is a fellow of the College of Community Association Lawyers and partner of Richardson Ober LLP, a California law firm known for community association advice.—
Kelly G. Richardson,
Oc Register,
8 May 2026
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The chain of events began decades ago, when westerly winds around Antarctica started to get stronger, said Aditya Narayanan, a study author and research fellow in physical oceanography at the University of Southampton in the UK.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
Noun
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As for Jalen Duren, the big man’s postseason woes continued.—
Darnell Mayberry,
New York Times,
12 May 2026
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Boston 25 News reported that Brown has a criminal history spanning nearly two decades, citing court records tied to a man with the same name and date of birth that include prior firearm and drug convictions.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swain. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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