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
-
Senators in both parties seemed willing to try and continue working on the bill to pay government workers, although doing so would alleviate some of the current pressure to come to a deal.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
7 Nov. 2025 -
Amazon, likewise, has been willing to buy to give it scale in a space, from MGM to Whole Foods.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Nov. 2025
Adverb
-
This character of aberrance is what makes accidental surfing deaths seem inevitable—or, rather, inexorable, built into the subway’s force.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The lack of competition means the greatest fear many lawmakers have is not the prospect of losing to the other party in a general election but rather being snuffed out in a primary by a more ideological and extreme challenger.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Now, all these years later, Alice, 106, is ready to let go of the bullet that began the couple's love story.—
Nicholas Rice,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
-
For the first time since 2016, the 49ers won’t have linebacker Fred Warner to defend against the Rams, so Tatum Bethune (thigh) and Dee Winters (knees) must be ready for a full-on scheme against them.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
Adverb
-
Each comes to understand that the rules that prevailed during calmer times no longer hold, that to cling to them is to willingly accept privation and defeat.—
Tope Folarin,
The Atlantic,
8 Nov. 2025
-
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
Adjective
-
The Dodgers will be glad to get him back at some point next year.—
Aaliyan Mohammed,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Talking with reporters after the game, Bosa was glad the Bills won, but not so happy about the Chiefs converting a fourth-and-17 play.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The new rule stipulates that pillows must be firm enough to prevent suffocation and flat enough to prevent the baby’s head and neck from going into an inclined position.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Her parents were originally inclined to give her a name whose popularity was heavily influenced by another NBC show.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Nov. 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Fain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fain. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share