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 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 That real trust can be rare, from knowing other young lads (at Liverpool) and their experiences on loan. — Andy Jones, New York Times, 10 June 2026 This place was incredible, and got to enjoy it with some good lads. — Emily Krauser, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026 The year was 1994, and a handful of Irish lads were gathered at a hotel in Northern Ireland to celebrate Colin Cather’s pending nuptials. — Abby Ellin, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2026 McMurtry Automotive Ten years since the company formed, the mad lads at McMurtry Automotive are bringing the record-setting Spéirling Pure hypercar to life. — New Atlas, 25 Feb. 2026 The search for lads to play the young teen began a few months ago. — Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 11 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lads
  1. boys
  2. guys
  3. kids
  4. males
  5. teenagers
  6. gentlemen
  7. dudes
Noun
  • She’s spent most of her life in King’s Landing; raised young boys in King’s Landing.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 July 2026
  • Eight people were injured, including four boys aged six to 14 years old.
    — Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026
Definition of boys
Noun
  • There were just a bunch of drunk guys at the mansion and a couple Playboy bunnies that were contractually hired to walk around and wave.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
  • While Hannah and Ji make the tradeoff, Vega’s guys put a tracker on Ji and Tyler’s vehicle, all orchestrated from Vega’s business date at the driving range.
    — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 10 July 2026
Definition of guys
Noun
  • There were some older, some younger and some kids whose parents were diehard fans.
    — Sophie Lindberg July 11, Kansas City Star, 12 July 2026
  • The clients, a couple with two kids, wanted the look of an aged farmhouse.
    — Genevieve Walker, Architectural Digest, 11 July 2026
Definition of kids
Noun
  • Two masked and gloved males used a landscaping brick June 20 to smash their way into the front of Tacos Juniors, 9735 Roberts Road, and then depart through the rear with a safe, police said.
    — Dennis Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2026
  • Tracking down the nasty bug isn’t straightforward as males and females of the parasite swap parts of their DNA to reproduce, meaning their offspring often have different genes.
    — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 8 July 2026
Definition of males
Noun
  • Two pilots and three teenagers survived the crash and were released from the hospital, according to the Laredo Police Department.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 July 2026
  • The company alerted the San Mateo Police Department to two Northern California teenagers who were allegedly using a toy gun to shoot water beads out of one of their vehicles — and the pair were later detained.
    — Noe Padilla, USA Today, 10 July 2026
Definition of teenagers
Noun
  • There’s a resident big band that sets the tempo for dancing—there are even gentlemen hosts available for ladies—and a DJ rocks the small disco late into the night.
    — Fran Golden, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026
  • The ladies shimmered in champagne, gold and blush, while the gentlemen wisely remembered that the safest way to stand out at Miss Swift’s wedding was, in fact, not to.
    — Bryan West, USA Today, 7 July 2026
Definition of gentlemen
Noun
  • Bobby Wilson was a pastor’s son who grew up idolizing the kind of R&B dudes who could wail a praise song and then hit up Freaknik afterwards (think Jodeci and H-Town).
    — Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 11 July 2026
  • Mariana is not pleased to hear this, and he's got some rough-looking dudes with him.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Definition of dudes

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Cite this Entry

“Lads.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lads. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of lads for Spanish Speakers

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