fain 1 of 2

adjective

ˈfān How to pronounce fain (audio)
Definition of fainnext
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
  1. willing
  2. rather
  3. ready
  4. willingly
  5. glad
  6. inclined
Adjective
  • Ours is a society in which those intrepid few who are willing to engage with their surroundings will find no eyes or ears to receive them.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026
  • But that has been changing since the pandemic, as consumers became more interested, knowledgable and willing to experiment with fragrances than ever.
    — Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of willing
Adverb
  • Some groups have also emphasized that public health officials should lead not with conversations about an individual child’s risk or potential benefit from vaccines, but rather the vaccines’ impact on society overall.
    — Nicholas Florko, STAT, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Teddy bears and trains, baseballs and dolls dance through the air into Santa's enormous sack, which sits at Santa's feet, or rather Harry's, who is perched high on the throne at the back of the float, magnificent in white whiskers and red velvet.
    — Danielle Parker, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of rather
Adjective
  • The mattress was ready to sleep on just a few hours after unpacking.
    — Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 2026
  • In his solo show, South Florida dancer/choreographer Randolph Ward is ready to bare it all—his art, his many selves, and, at one point, his body as testimony.
    — Guillermo Perez, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of ready
Adverb
  • Carney remembered Goulding as someone who willingly took on difficult challenges, and Wong as someone his family could always depend on.
    — Rob Gillies, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The film’s central question, as Coon sees it, is why someone might willingly abandon a conventional life for an alternative community.
    — Katherine Brodsky, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of willingly
Adjective
  • Welcome back Insiders, glad to have you here after a busy week in Cannes and plenty else going on.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The publisher was so glad, saying thank you because the book is back, and on top of that, the world is discovering that character.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of glad
Adjective
  • Screens make staying in easy Puls said that adults are more inclined to stay home and stream movies and TV shows instead of hosting friends and family or going out.
    — Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Republicans were slightly more inclined to approve, with 34 percent arguing it should be livestreamed, but even there, an overwhelming 64 percent disagreed.
    — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 15 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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Cite this Entry

“Fain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fain. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

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