fain 1 of 2

adjective

ˈfān How to pronounce fain (audio)
Definition of fainnext
as in willing
having a desire or inclination (as for a specified course of action) during the Renaissance most men of science and the arts were fain to express their noblest thoughts in Latin, the lingua franca of the learned

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fain

2 of 2

adverb

as in rather
by choice or preference "I would fain not marry that suitor, my lord," the princess pleaded

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fain
  1. willing
  2. rather
  3. ready
  4. willingly
  5. glad
  6. inclined
Adjective
  • More passengers are paying for business class and premium economy, airports continue to invest heavily in lounges, and the wider travel experience has become increasingly tiered around consumers willing to spend for greater comfort and convenience.
    — Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Emery’s desire to blood Madjo early was ultimately reflected in picking him to start ahead of Tammy Abraham — who the club are willing to listen to offers for — in Salzburg.
    — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of willing
Adverb
  • And yet, Simon Farnaby is perhaps most recognizable for mugging his rather expressive and jovial face, usually beneath a crop of untamed curly hair, across a series of scene-stealing comic cameos.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
  • There is no Payroll tax, but rather a complicated system of private accounts (with mandatory employer contributions) for healthcare and retirement savings.
    — Nathan Lewis, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of rather
Adjective
  • So come hungry and ready to be a part of one big Italian family!
    — Jessica Guay, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Adams is yet to feature in pre-season but should be ready for Matchday 1, while Justin Kluivert, who has played well since returning from the World Cup with the Netherlands, should slot into the No 10 role.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of ready
Adverb
  • When leaders are calm during uncertainty, curious instead of defensive and able to communicate with confidence and clarity, their teams collaborate more willingly.
    — Matthew Rolnick, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Tony was a complex person who willingly put himself in the entertainment industry, which can, unfortunately, compress a whole person down into a series of bullet points and memes.
    — Laurie Woolever, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of willingly
Adjective
  • Melody Winston, senior executive of Living Fresh Market in Forest Park, was glad to see some reprieve for her customers — and for her store.
    — Zareen Syed, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Lee, who also stole a base and made several excellent defensive plays, was glad to still be a Giant following the deadline.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of glad
Adjective
  • Of course, with Aegon still breathing, the High Septon is less inclined than ever to anoint a woman in defiance of the deeply patriarchal Faith of the Seven.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
  • And with the midterm elections quickly approaching, both sides of the aisle appear inclined to push off the fight for now.
    — Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of inclined
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.

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failures
fain
faint
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Cite this Entry

“Fain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fain. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on fain

Nglish: Translation of fain for Spanish Speakers

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