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
-
Democrats and Republicans in Congress have been playing the blame game this week, accusing the other of not being willing to negotiate.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
3 Oct. 2025 -
One can make the case that many voters are also willing to be selective in their vision—the right’s defense of free speech gathered steam despite the Republican Party suffering from even more seemingly intractable internal contradictions on the issue.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
3 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
The audience for wax museums is melting away in the digital age, when posing with a static dummy has come to feel rather quaint.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
4 Oct. 2025
-
The simplicity is intentional so your eye isn't bouncing, but rather gliding through the room.—
Kathy Barnes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Kerzka cleaned blood off the floor so the area would be ready for more patients.—
Georgea Kovanis,
Freep.com,
5 Oct. 2025
-
The next hitter, Marsh, was ready for a two-strike fastball, smoking a 100 mph pitch up the box for a single.—
Charlotte Varnes,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
And the Patriots don’t have enough offensive firepower to willingly part with a legitimate NFL starter, taking fumbles out of the equation.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
24 Sep. 2025
-
In the latest demands of Intel, the government willingly relinquished the ability to exert control, despite being the largest holder of Intel’s shares.—
Andrew King,
Fortune,
20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Mets fans will likely be glad to see the back of Helsley, assuming their team's front office doesn't count on a bounce-back.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Petite shoppers will be glad to hear that the cozy bottoms are available in both a 22- and 30-inch inseam; the former is designed to fit those under 5 feet 4 inches.—
Melony Forcier,
PEOPLE,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The coaches may be even less inclined to start Comrie more if the defense struggles without Samberg.—
The Athletic NHL,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
-
If the labor market shows signs of resiliency, the central bank may be less inclined to cut its benchmark rate.—
Sean Conlon,Sawdah Bhaimiya,
CNBC,
25 Sep. 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 5 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share