1
as in boyfriend
a male romantic companion
a romanticized portrait of a bygone era of beauteous Southern belles and their gallant swains
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in lover
a man who courts a woman usually with the goal of marrying her
Grandma claims that she had several swains pursuing her, but it was only Grandpa who won her heart
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of swain
As the two lovers, Robin Wright as the comely princess and Cary Elwes as her loving swain are engaging and appealing.
—
Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2025
But in the new film, the unnamed swain has been replaced by a Robin Hood-style heartthrob named Jonathan (Andrew Burnap), who leads a defiant group of bandits that steals from the monarchy and gives to the poor.
—Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2025
Science emerges as a version of the pastoral, with the physicist as swain.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024
Odette is a shape-shifter, from woman to swan, under sorcerer Rothbart’s spell, only to be broken when a swain pledges true love to her—Siegfried to the rescue.
—Guillermo Perez, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2024
Kramer, once again showing infinite tact, dissuaded the swain.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Dec. 2023
Stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth return for the fourth time as ace archer Everdeen and her pair of devoted swains, director Francis Lawrence is back for his third film, and screenwriters Peter Craig and Danny Strong mark this as their second effort.
—Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 19 Nov. 2023
Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2025
But in the new film, the unnamed swain has been replaced by a Robin Hood-style heartthrob named Jonathan (Andrew Burnap), who leads a defiant group of bandits that steals from the monarchy and gives to the poor.
—Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2025
Science emerges as a version of the pastoral, with the physicist as swain.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024
Odette is a shape-shifter, from woman to swan, under sorcerer Rothbart’s spell, only to be broken when a swain pledges true love to her—Siegfried to the rescue.
—Guillermo Perez, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2024
Kramer, once again showing infinite tact, dissuaded the swain.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Dec. 2023
Stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth return for the fourth time as ace archer Everdeen and her pair of devoted swains, director Francis Lawrence is back for his third film, and screenwriters Peter Craig and Danny Strong mark this as their second effort.
—Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 19 Nov. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swain
Noun
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The 23-year-old, who welcomed her son Halo with boyfriend DDG, admitted to photoshopping her growing belly out of Instagram posts before publicly announcing the birth.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
6 Oct. 2025
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Based on the events of the episodes, the father could have believably been Logan, Jess, new boyfriend Paul, or some random Wookie cosplayer.—
Claire Franken,
TVLine,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Vaughan has also made his mark on primetime television, with roles such as the charming firefighter Dan Gordon on Charmed and Calvin Galston, the longtime, married lover of Nova Bordelon on Queen Sugar.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Oct. 2025
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The cable network recently went in search for the best spots for plant lovers in the United States — showcasing a single garden per state.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Last year’s The Tortured Poets Department, which recounted Swift’s breakups with rocker beau Matty Healy and actor/co-writer Joe Alwyn, bristled at expectations and disappeared into fantasy.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
3 Oct. 2025
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Her beau and companion was asleep on his board in the middle of the lagoon.—
NEAL RUBIN,
Freep.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Keeping that in mind, Las Vegas has been linked as a potential trade suitor for a very intriguing dynamic defensive back.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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Among the colorful cast of rogues, villains, queens and clergymen, Andre The Giant stands out as the young suitor’s kind-hearted but stupid brute.—
Duane Byrge,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Surveillance footage showed Brown carrying the sleeping boy from his bedroom hours before he was found in a pool of blood, WFAA reported, citing Dallas police.—
Liam Quinn,
PEOPLE,
6 Oct. 2025
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It was given to a total of 2,249 baby boys in 2024, per the SSA.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Even without his fellow star, Bichette.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
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Touzani, who co-wrote Calle Málaga with her husband, producer and fellow director Nabil Ayouch, shows her customary sensitivity in suggesting the ways in which a physical space can contain an entire lifetime of precious memories.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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An adult man allegedly used falsified documents to enroll in a Minnesota high school and reportedly played on the football team.—
Marni Rose McFall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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The rumblings of a shorter extension have been loud, and McDavid may be more concerned with Edmonton’s ability to put a championship roster around him than becoming the NHL’s first $20 million AAV man.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Swain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swain. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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