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 Before that, though, 25-year-old Stephanie Hartwell walked her four children — a girl, twin boys, and a younger boy — to the bus stop and sent them off to school. — Samantha Springer, NBC news, 19 July 2026 With both boys squarely in their young adulthood, the film not only uses intimacy to depict the evolution of their relationship but also offers a realistic representation of teen sexuality. — Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 18 July 2026 Advocates have warned against the pair’s rising tide of influence among young boys and men. — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 18 July 2026 Researchers are unsure why boys appear to be most at risk of being infected. — Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 17 July 2026 The three boys were approached by a masked man on the street. — Megan Fahrney, ABC News, 17 July 2026 Shakira, a mother of two boys, even gave Roccuzzo a heartfelt shoutout in Thursday’s post. — Jaclyn Hendricks, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026 She’s spent most of her life in King’s Landing; raised young boys in King’s Landing. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 July 2026 The Nationals’ Youth Baseball Academy in Southeast, a staple since 2013, is a wonderful venue for both boys’ baseball teams in middle and high schools, and for girls’ softball teams. — David Aldridge, New York Times, 4 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boys
  1. kids
  2. boyfriends
  3. teenagers
  4. beaux
  5. lads
  6. youths
Noun
  • Little kids rooting for France ran out of food lines with their parents.
    — Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 19 July 2026
  • Her college professor set them up, and the pair has since welcomed two kids, son Aden and daughter Ariah.
    — Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026
Definition of kids
Noun
  • As with Yarmosky, Holmes seemed to be having fun with these boyfriends, according to The Cut.
    — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 15 July 2026
  • The singer and Gomez met through their respective ex-boyfriends, Joe and Nick Jonas, in 2008.
    — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 2 July 2026
Definition of boyfriends
Noun
  • The series, about students at a school in Japan that teaches super-powered teenagers how to become heroes, arrived in the boom era of Marvel Studios’ cinematic universe.
    — Diya Chacko, Oc Register, 24 July 2026
  • The majority of measles cases in 2026 have been confirmed among children and teenagers aged 19 and younger, according to the CDC.
    — Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 24 July 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
  • This intensive five-day retreat welcomes only America’s dudes, bros, lads, sons and fathers.
    — Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 21 June 2026
  • Aussie Rules lads are almost clothed enough to enter a convenience store.
    — Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
Definition of lads
Noun
  • The movement’s rapid spread beyond student groups points to growing frustration among young Indians and resembles a broader trend across South Asia, where youths have played a central role in anti-government movements in recent years.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 July 2026
  • The Office of the Juvenile Officer, which acts as a prosecutor for criminal charges brought against youths, has not filed any charges in connection with the vandalism, said Scott Lauck, spokesman for the office.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 14 July 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 26 Jul. 2026.

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