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boys

noun

plural of boy
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

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 boys When Fridays were for dates, boys were for fun, and girlfriends were soulmates. — Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 20 Sep. 2026 Brody Drewes shot 68 (-4) to help Lake Minneola boys golf edge Eustis by one stroke to win the West Orange Invitational. — Steve Gorches, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026 Even though the Longs have no more boys arriving at La Serna, there’s a sister who will be freshman next year at La Serna. — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026 Three students emerge as protagonists, two troublemaking boys and an outcast girl, who unsteadily becomes their friend. — Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 19 Sep. 2026 These boys and girls love fashion for things that are beautiful, but worn in a way that is from their mum’s wardrobe. — Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026 Unfortunately, Sara went into premature labor, and her twin boys were stillborn. — Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026 Four teenage boys face felony charges after allegedly hazing a football teammate in their school's locker room, police say. — Steven Rosenbaum, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026 Jenkins said sextortion is another significant concern that can impact children with law enforcement seeing particularly serious impacts among teen boys. — Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boys
  1. kids
  2. boyfriends
  3. teenagers
  4. beaux
  5. lads
  6. youths
Noun
  • The two-bedroom Ocean Cottages are the most popular option for families and friend groups; the floor-to-ceiling windows are dramatic, and there's enough square footage that adults and kids aren't negotiating for space.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2026
  • These kids were gifted tickets to the show, as announced a day earlier by Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum.
    — Natalia Cano, Billboard, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of kids
Noun
  • The book is set around three years after the events of Heated Rivalry and sees Shane and Ilya as secret boyfriends while both play for Canadian hockey teams.
    — Tiffany Kelly, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The tired, the sick, the hungry, the famous and tons of ex-boyfriends, all regretting their wrongs.
    — Courtney Love, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of boyfriends
Noun
  • Decoy Dan is an amalgamation of the adult actors who were cast to play the teenagers in the fake houses in the show.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026
  • In times gone by, teenagers from the surrounding five villages would hike through the forest and stand between the oversized granite rocks, arms outstretched.
    — Claire Turrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of teenagers
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
Definition of beaux
Noun
  • There's a multitude of Gucci wearers in the world, spanning bratty aristocrats, the new bourgeois, and lads buying outlet merchandise.
    — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Kyle Walker and even some of the foreign lads were taking the p***.
    — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of lads
Noun
  • The number of Connecticut youths accessing emergency shelters has increased by about 5% from 2025 to 2026, and resources for that population are thin, homeless service providers said.
    — Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 19 Sep. 2026
  • A week of international climate change protests, led by youths including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, concluded.
    — USA Today, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of youths

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Cite this Entry

“Boys.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boys. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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