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
  • That silence is what widens the gap, teaching an entire team what leadership is willing to accept.
    — Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
  • Otherwise, he’s restricted to impersonal helpers — a detective (Liza Colón-Zayas) willing to take his phone calls, an AI assistant (ew) and a network of facial recognition cameras (double ew).
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026
Definition of willing
Adverb
  • He was beaten rather handily by Napoleon Solo, the victor, and Iron Honor, in place, and was never a real threat to either horse.
    — Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • State lawmakers argued that schools should not be delaying reporting AI nudes until their own probes end but rather should be required to promptly tip off police, who are better positioned to investigate the crimes.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 31 July 2026
Definition of rather
Adjective
  • Officials are hopeful that the immediate areas near the stadium will be done by the middle of August, and the final configuration will be ready.
    — Mac Engel July 31, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 July 2026
  • Teams have trained over the summer to be ready for the upcoming school year, APS police Chief Ronald Applin said.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of ready
Adverb
  • But long waits to enter the stadium — delays that stemmed from operational failures rather than genuine demand — frustrated the same fans who had willingly queued for tickets weeks earlier.
    — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 31 July 2026
  • Consensual, purposeful data outperforms scraped noise every time—because users who willingly share offer better, more accurate information than those who've been tricked into doing so.
    — Mani Padisetti, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of willingly
Adjective
  • Rebecca Ferguson is very glad that Silo fans have moved on from their initial gripes about the latest season’s offerings.
    — Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 28 July 2026
  • And the working artist is glad to discuss their projects with anyone entering their creative space.
    — Lou Ponsi, Oc Register, 23 July 2026
Definition of glad
Adjective
  • Putting on shows throughout the park meant hiring a lot of young people in the South Bay who were theatrically inclined to sing, dance, play instruments as well as manage the lights, sound, costumes and sets.
    — Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 25 July 2026
  • These are terms that the Navy can define for itself, and early indications suggest the sea service is not inclined to use these exemptions.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 July 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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Cite this Entry

“Fain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fain. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of fain for Spanish Speakers

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