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
-
Not everybody’s willing to accept that; people don’t like to accept things that may change them or displace them.—
Rachel Nuwer,
Scientific American,
16 June 2026 -
Big Pharma buyers are well funded and increasingly willing to take larger bets, the bankers said.—
Elsa Ohlen,
CNBC,
16 June 2026
Adverb
-
The menu at Ardys’ food truck is rather sparse compared to its restaurant in Philippine Cultural Center, but the truck could arguably sell just one item and still do just fine.—
USA TODAY Network,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
-
In bacteria, transcription factors are rather like keys that fit the locks of unique binding sites on DNA.—
Philip Ball,
Quanta Magazine,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
Previously, Alix Earle, Jake Shane, Anastasia Karanikolaou and Stella Jones shared their own updates at sea with Alo, from fitness sessions with wellness instructors to below-deck getting ready videos.—
Joe Bobowicz,
Vogue,
18 June 2026
-
Prosecutors said Sit and Liu were packed and ready to flee when officers arrested them in June 2025.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
Adverb
-
If CosRx can convince people to willingly slather snail mucin on their faces, trusting the brand with hair care is a pretty easy next step.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
18 June 2026
-
Hart willingly did the dirty work, snatching up rebounds rather than points.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
15 June 2026
Adjective
-
Also, glad to know the <3 emoticon lives on with the younger generation!—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
12 June 2026
-
Jones hit in the cleanup spot Monday and his teammates, including Julio Gutierrez — who has had the hottest bat in the playoffs for the Mustangs — were certainly glad to see him there.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
In the early stages of a relationship, self-expansion is largely automatic, as new partners are most inclined at this point to learn about each other’s unfamiliar interests, social circles, habits and ideas.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
-
The urban-inclined may prefer the commute from New York City.—
Rachel Chang,
Travel + Leisure,
12 June 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Fain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fain. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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