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
-
Yet, data center demand has spiked with the AI boom, and developers have increasingly been willing to consider demand response.—
Conor Harrison,
The Conversation,
3 Feb. 2026 -
Despite initial messaging, the players have been less willing to invoke a work stoppage after authorizing a strike through a vote back in December.—
Colleen Kane,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
For another, this drubbing, unlike many previous ones, was triggered not by fears of a bubble but rather concern that AI is on the verge of supplanting the business models of a wide swathe of companies that doomsayers have long predicted were at risk.—
Brody Ford,
Fortune,
5 Feb. 2026
-
According to this idea, although these objects may look like supersize red stars, their shine is powered not by standard stellar thermonuclear fusion but rather by the relentless funneling of burning-hot plasma into the insatiable maw of a snowballing black hole.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
McClain had just finished up her associate's degree and was ready to transfer elsewhere.—
Zoey Lyttle,
PEOPLE,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Enter this one-pan version that serves eight and is ready in about an hour—most of which is baking time.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
Investigators do not believe Nancy Guthrie left her home willingly and that she was abducted in her sleep early Sunday morning, the Pima County Sheriff's Department told ABC News.—
Jon Haworth,
ABC News,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Volunteers often are needed for low-level jobs that Quimby does willingly, including keeping track of how long a person is taking for a shower, arbitrating the line for use of two bathrooms, and moderating use of washers and driers.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Microsoft will no doubt be glad to see the end of the month next week, and will hope for a better February.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Talking about music, Nicolau was glad to be able to work with longtime friend and popular Portuguese singer — and 2017 Eurovision winner — Salvador Sobral.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Teams might be less inclined to offer a blockbuster package for Antetokounmpo without knowing the full scope of his injury.—
Bryan Toporek,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
-
While Senate Democrats were initially frustrated by the DHS bill, many still seemed inclined to vote for the entire appropriations package rather than risk a partial shutdown.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
24 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Fain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fain. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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