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
-
The houses, often apartments inside the city’s tall residential buildings, strike so much fear among residents that anyone willing to live there can negotiate hefty discounts in one of the world’s most expensive property markets.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025 -
There are real questions about how much more consumers are willing or able to pay.—
Camila Domonoske,
NPR,
31 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
The sixth-year veteran has been rather terrible as of late.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
25 Oct. 2025
-
But a few of those games have been rather close, particularly last year’s 30-27 win in double overtime.—
Chase Gemes,
Kansas City Star,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
This follows after Norton officially confirmed four new models ready to be revealed at next month’s EICMA in Milan.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
25 Oct. 2025
-
With a full offseason of conditioning, the twin of Houston’s Amen Thompson should be ready to emerge the way his brother did a year ago.—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
The Michigan victim thought her love interest was seriously injured in an explosion while working on an oil rig — and willingly rushed money to help.—
Susan Tompor,
Freep.com,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Most national leaders, after all, do not willingly associate themselves with diarrhea.—
Michelle Goldberg,
Mercury News,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Harrison would have been glad of the assist, too.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
-
The decision, announced Friday, was made in close consultation with Britain’s King Charles III, who is believed to be glad at the outcome, while Prince William and other members of the royal family were also consulted on the discussions, CNN understands.—
Sophie Tanno,
CNN Money,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Such an ambitious agenda assumes a counterpart who is either inclined or compelled to cooperate.—
Neil Thomas,
Time,
29 Oct. 2025
-
The new rule requires pillows to be firm enough to prevent suffocation and flat enough to prevent an inclined position of a baby’s head and neck.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Fain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fain. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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