1
as in kids
a male person who has not yet reached adulthood
a giggling little boy ran by
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in boyfriends
a male romantic companion
their teenaged daughter has a new boy, and she's just crazy about him
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of boys
Young boys, some no older than five or six, showed off their marksmanship by throwing reeds like spears with perfect accuracy, and the men demonstrated their precision with bow and arrow.
—
Literary Hub, 11 June 2026
Langston shared a personal story about a Fort Worth athlete who wanted to play football, and had to play tackle with boys before girls flag leagues started to pop up.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 June 2026
The final day of the Minnesota boys' AAA state tournament turned into a two-man bout.
—Ren Clayton, CBS News, 10 June 2026
But Grossman struck the two boys at 73 mph, according to expert witnesses.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026
The menu sprawls across all-day breakfast, po’ boys, muffulettas, she-crab soup, shrimp and grits and Cajun pasta, with most entrées landing in the $13-$20 range.
—Charlotte Observer, 10 June 2026
Huarte’s profile now includes The Register’s Orange County boys tennis player of the year award.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 10 June 2026
The War Eagles got off to a strong start in the fall with a state championship in volleyball and followed with a productive winter, earning state titles in girls basketball and boys and girls swimming.
—Chip Saye, AJC.com, 9 June 2026
Both boys are on track to graduate from Jones High School.
—Michael Cuglietta, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 June 2026
Literary Hub, 11 June 2026
Langston shared a personal story about a Fort Worth athlete who wanted to play football, and had to play tackle with boys before girls flag leagues started to pop up.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 June 2026
The final day of the Minnesota boys' AAA state tournament turned into a two-man bout.
—Ren Clayton, CBS News, 10 June 2026
But Grossman struck the two boys at 73 mph, according to expert witnesses.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026
The menu sprawls across all-day breakfast, po’ boys, muffulettas, she-crab soup, shrimp and grits and Cajun pasta, with most entrées landing in the $13-$20 range.
—Charlotte Observer, 10 June 2026
Huarte’s profile now includes The Register’s Orange County boys tennis player of the year award.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 10 June 2026
The War Eagles got off to a strong start in the fall with a state championship in volleyball and followed with a productive winter, earning state titles in girls basketball and boys and girls swimming.
—Chip Saye, AJC.com, 9 June 2026
Both boys are on track to graduate from Jones High School.
—Michael Cuglietta, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boys
Noun
-
A little play tent with a play campfire had been thoughtfully set up for my kids in the living room.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 June 2026
-
Yeah, the kids really want that, like ‘90s, Y2K kind of vibe.—
Deputy Entertainment,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
Husbands and boyfriends have been booking birthday celebrations and surprise date nights for their ladies.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
29 May 2026
-
The black widow is not only the namesake of an Avenger, but used as a term for female serial killers that take out their husbands and boyfriends, as black widow spiders sometimes eat their male partners.—
Eva Flowe
May 28,
Charlotte Observer,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
The George family was thrilled to learn the friendship Dave and Jesni had formed as teenagers in their church’s youth program had blossomed into a lifelong partnership.—
Lauren Mascarenhas,
CNN Money,
6 June 2026
-
On a recent Wednesday night, a swarm of teenagers on a class trip filed into a pristine theater at one of the world’s most vaunted cultural venues and sat down to solve a murder.—
Elahe Izadi,
Washington Post,
6 June 2026
Noun
-
So are their girlfriends and wives, who support their beaus in stadiums and at home.—
Kate Hogan,
PEOPLE,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Despite some very not-so-subtle hints from yours truly, my past beaus have never gifted me a handbag on Valentine’s Day, either.—
Michelle Baricevic,
InStyle,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
That real trust can be rare, from knowing other young lads (at Liverpool) and their experiences on loan.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
-
This place was incredible, and got to enjoy it with some good lads.—
Emily Krauser,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The figures roughly follow the life cycle, with youths at one end and the elderly at the other.—
Sara Tenenbaum,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
-
Organizers announced the 2026 Downtown Days festival in Lee’s Summit will be its last after fights, assaults, property damage and large groups of youths refusing to disperse marred Saturday’s event.—
Ian Cummings,
Kansas City Star,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Boys.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boys. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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