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

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

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 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of fain

adjective

adverb

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