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
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
Adjective
-
Not everybody’s willing to accept that; people don’t like to accept things that may change them or displace them.—
Rachel Nuwer,
Scientific American,
16 June 2026 -
Big Pharma buyers are well funded and increasingly willing to take larger bets, the bankers said.—
Elsa Ohlen,
CNBC,
16 June 2026
Adverb
-
Phongam plays off Jittri’s steam-rolling ambition to electrifying results in a rather addictive Thai thriller series that throws a lot of story at ya.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
11 June 2026
-
But rather than further ratchet up the stakes in the final minutes, the episode closes with Rosemary exhaustively — and rather hilariously — going over an extensive genealogical document for Tom and Patricia.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
Previously, Alix Earle, Jake Shane, Anastasia Karanikolaou and Stella Jones shared their own updates at sea with Alo, from fitness sessions with wellness instructors to below-deck getting ready videos.—
Joe Bobowicz,
Vogue,
18 June 2026
-
Prosecutors said Sit and Liu were packed and ready to flee when officers arrested them in June 2025.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
Adverb
-
Then there was Officer Niwa, who willingly fielded questions across from Moynihan Hall.—
Antonio Ferme,
Variety,
11 June 2026
-
Bell, who’d willingly chosen the juco route, was more interested in sincere investments in his development than instant money.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
8 June 2026
Adjective
-
Also, glad to know the <3 emoticon lives on with the younger generation!—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
12 June 2026
-
Jones hit in the cleanup spot Monday and his teammates, including Julio Gutierrez — who has had the hottest bat in the playoffs for the Mustangs — were certainly glad to see him there.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
In the early stages of a relationship, self-expansion is largely automatic, as new partners are most inclined at this point to learn about each other’s unfamiliar interests, social circles, habits and ideas.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
-
The urban-inclined may prefer the commute from New York City.—
Rachel Chang,
Travel + Leisure,
12 June 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Fain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fain. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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