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

He is helped by his god-daughter Saga (Zazie Beetz), who is a top FBI agent willing to go undercover in a psychiatric hospital to get close to Walter.

— Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 4 Nov. 2026
Historically, Miami-Dade voters haven’t been willing to endorse paying commissioners more.

— Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of willing

Adverb

Star winger Lionel Messi, the MLS leader in assists and goals, was rather silent against Cincinnati, finishing with zero shots on target and a yellow card.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2026
The organizers of the rally at Roseland Community Hospital Wednesday morning said the shutdown of labor and delivery services there and elsewhere is happening not because OB/GYN services are no longer needed, but is rather a sign of bad policy.

— Lauren Victory, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of rather

Adjective

The staff is knowledgeable about the area and was ready to give recommendations on where to grab breakfast nearby or to point me towards the umbrellas during a snow storm.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Nov. 2026
With diesel and gas prices still spiking through Election Day, and Trump’s approval rating sagging, voters were ready to punish Republicans.

— Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of ready

Adjective

Younger and middle-aged elites are also less inclined to put up with the careers and sacrifices the state has historically presented as honorable.

— Jieun Baek, Foreign Affairs, 30 Oct. 2026
There’s a performance aspect to reality television, to people who are politically inclined.

— Jesse David Fox, Vulture, 23 Oct. 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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failures

fain

faint

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Style

“Fain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fain. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of fain

adjective

adverb

Example Sentences

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