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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 Ben Jones as Cooter Davenport Ben Jones played Cooter Davenport, the lovable mechanic who was always ready to help the Duke boys out of a jam, with a garage that served as both a workplace and hideout when needed. — Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2026 Set in Queens in 1986, the family drama stars Teller (contending for Best Actor) as the hardworking, decent father of two boys. — Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 26 Sep. 2026 Similarly, Diana loved bringing her boys to the beach and frolicking in the ocean. — Katherine J Igoe, InStyle, 26 Sep. 2026 The singer plays Del Harvey, a young decoy who played both boys and girls on the show and how is based on the real person of the same name who was a volunteer for the internet watchdog group Perverted Justice. — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 25 Sep. 2026 Early in the book, there’s a disturbing scene in which Cathy’s mother stumbles upon a half naked 10-year-old Cathy lying on the floor beneath two teenage boys. — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 25 Sep. 2026 Experts are trying to better understand the timing and the duration of protection from just one dose, particularly in boys. — Mike Stobbe, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026 Ahead, discover our list of Shakespearean names for baby boys and girls. — Kara Nesvig, Parents, 24 Sep. 2026 When Fridays were for dates, boys were for fun, and girlfriends were soulmates. — Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 20 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
  • Alabama sued the social media company in 2025 claiming that the platform had negative effects on the mental well-being of youths.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Sep. 2026
  • 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
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 30 Sep. 2026.

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