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 The 13-year-old previously attended Lambrook School, Windsor, alongside his brother and sister but will now follow in the footsteps of his father and uncle, Prince Harry, at the prestigious all-boys boarding school. — Stephanie Bridger-Linning, Vanity Fair, 2 Aug. 2026 Protesters and volunteer medics pull the two boys out of the car and try to treat their wounds. — Sydney Brownstone, NPR, 2 Aug. 2026 Kyiv's military administration said the strikes had killed nine people, and the city's mayor reported 27 people, including four children boys, were wounded and transported to hospital. — CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026 The couple, who married in April 2018, welcomed their first son the following year and have since expanded their family to include three boys. — Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 1 Aug. 2026 In May 2025, the proud parents posed for photos with their twin boys at their high school graduation. — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026 The 30 boys and 30 girls were each split into teams of five, each with a different color. — Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2026 The lawsuit alleges breach of fiduciary duty and claims the school rejected roughly $10 million in pledges from alumni seeking to preserve the all-boys model. — Sacbee.com, 25 July 2026 Several teams were runners-up in the fight for state championships, like Jones football, Horizon boys volleyball, Ocoee girls and Evans boys in basketball, and even the Colonial cheerleading squad. — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boys
  1. kids
  2. boyfriends
  3. teenagers
  4. beaux
  5. lads
  6. youths
Noun
  • Residents didn’t feel safe walking their dogs down the street, let alone taking their kids to the neighborhood park.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Building Coping Mechanisms Youth sports have the power to teach perseverance and overcoming adversity in a way kids may not be able to learn elsewhere, especially in our digital age.
    — Anna Halkidis, Parents, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of kids
Noun
  • She’s also joined by a range of boyfriends, with shoppers being able to pick one that has traditionally light or dark features.
    — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 29 July 2026
  • There’s nothing like two boyfriends to do it for you every time.
    — Steve Wasserman, Los Angeles Times, 27 July 2026
Definition of boyfriends
Noun
  • Standing on the other side were three teenagers, one of whom pulled what looked like a pipe out of his pants and struck Carroll multiple times in the head.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Throughout the day, teenagers would dash onto the beach, dodging officers before diving back into the water.
    — Kerry Breen, CBS News, 31 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
  • Or is a ‘good’ World Cup actually one in which none of your lads featured, or their country got knocked out early, and are therefore going to be fresh heading into the 10 gruelling months ahead?
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 24 July 2026
  • This intensive five-day retreat welcomes only America’s dudes, bros, lads, sons and fathers.
    — Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 21 June 2026
Definition of lads
Noun
  • Two youths have been charged in Jackson County Family Court following the chaos that disrupted Lee’s Summit’s Downtown Days festival and led organizers to cancel future events last month.
    — Nathan Pilling July 30, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026
  • Long before Bad Bunny became one of the most popular artists in the world, Beltrán devoted his work off the field to helping Puerto Rican youths and promoting his island.
    — Jose de Jesus Ortiz, Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2026
Definition of youths

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Boys.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boys. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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