lads

noun

plural of lad
1
as in boys
a male person who has not yet reached adulthood fond of telling tall tales of the days when he was just a lad

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in guys
an adult male human being pass me another beer—will you, lad?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of lads How do two middle-class lads in ratty threads, who might very well have both been played by Robert Pattinson, fast-track an appointment with Jesus? — Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026 Just as Annette Badland teased to Deadline, Mae’s shares come in clutch from beyond the grave at the Bi-Annual Shareholders’ Meeting, only attended by the three lads from the pub. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2026 There's a multitude of Gucci wearers in the world, spanning bratty aristocrats, the new bourgeois, and lads buying outlet merchandise. — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 26 Sep. 2026 Kyle Walker and even some of the foreign lads were taking the p***. — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026 About how many pounds of fish do each of these strapping, 1,100-lb lads eat per day? — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 17 Aug. 2026 This intensive five-day retreat welcomes only America’s dudes, bros, lads, sons and fathers. — Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 21 June 2026 Aussie Rules lads are almost clothed enough to enter a convenience store. — Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026 The unanimous rave reviews convinced him this wasn’t just about his head being turned by four pretty lads, one in particular. — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 18 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lads
  1. boys
  2. guys
  3. kids
  4. males
  5. teenagers
  6. gentlemen
  7. dudes
Noun
  • Quimby’s grandmother made a Wally cake that both boys immediately recognized, while her grandfather contributed cookies decorated with a Red Sox jersey and logo.
    — Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Little boys tossed a football back and forth along the street while parents watched, sharing food and conversations with those around them.
    — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of boys
Noun
  • Unfortunately, had two guys in the same spot, going for the ball.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 30 Oct. 2026
  • No one knows that at the time these are guys being paid by the White House to break into buildings and spy on political opponents.
    — Dustin DeSoto, Vox, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of guys
Noun
  • The South is cheapest for young kids For families with young children, annual costs are lowest across much of the South.
    — Martie Bowser, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
  • When Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour stopped in London in 2024, the Prince of Wales wanted a photo with his kids and the world-famous singer.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of kids
Noun
  • Officers immediately responding to a citizen’s call found scratch marks above the store’s front door and the males gone, police said.
    — Dennis Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics state that 266,307 new prostate cancers were reported in the United States in 2023, and 34,815 males in the United States died from prostate cancer in 2024.
    — Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of males
Noun
  • The rambunctious teenagers crammed into a lecture hall suddenly went quiet when a woman old enough to be their great-grandmother, and smaller in stature than many of them, approached the podium.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The Noble Truth Project Youth Entrepreneurship program works with teenagers 14 to 19 and provides them with mentors, personal development skills, financial literacy tools, and educational enrichment opportunities.
    — Nakell Williams, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of teenagers
Noun
  • As if the Hawks should be gentlemen and hold open doors for the dainty, little Dream.
    — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen is adding a few more gentlemen (and ladies) for its third season, which has started production in UK and Morocco.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of gentlemen
Noun
  • The data dudes have created their place, and value, in every sport, and percentages direct possessions, matchups and everything else.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The whole point of the ad was to get dudes to sign up for a Novig account and start hammering parlays this football season.
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of dudes

Browse Nearby Words

ladling
lads
lady
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Cite this Entry

“Lads.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lads. Accessed 3 Nov. 2026.

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