FAIN Synonyms: 60 Similar and Opposite Words

fain 1 of 2

adjective

ˈfān

Definition of fain

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

Adjective

However, the buyers might not be as willing to part with the quality of prospects the Angels would like.

— Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 10 July 2026
Giselle Garcia, program director for NorCal Resist, said the arrest data largely tracks with the organization’s own informal counts though emphasized much enforcement goes unaccounted for if families aren’t willing to speak up.

— Mathew Miranda July 9, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2026

Definition of willing

Adverb

Plenty of professions skew one way or another, but those patterns aren’t driven by biology but rather our cultural stereotypes about who is good at what kind of work.

— Miranda Shanahan, Time, 10 July 2026
Their continued presence in the category, at this point, doesn’t register as reflective of their quality but rather voting inertia and a nomination body liable to box-check rather than seriously consider all the candidates.

— Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 10 July 2026

Definition of rather

Adjective

Combine that with increasingly hotter and drier weather due to climate change, and forests in the Sierra Nevada are left with a ton of stuff that’s ready to burst into flames.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Yaxel Lendeborg doing a little bit of everything As a player who will turn 24 before the season begins, Lendeborg was billed as a pro-ready prospect who will be able to immediately contribute to the Warriors’ rotation.

— Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 9 July 2026

Definition of ready

Adverb

And despite willingly signing the April agreement, according to Yaffe, John has refused to hand over the remaining personal property.

— Amber Gaudet, Charlotte Observer, 10 July 2026
Bowles told the jury during trial that May would have never willingly abandoned her children.

— Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2026

Definition of willingly

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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Style

“Fain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fain. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of fain

adjective

adverb

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