swain

noun

ˈswān How to pronounce swain (audio)
Definition of swainnext
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

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 swain Justyn Gonzalez and Alexandra Young share enjoyable comedy charm as a fumbling swain and the snappy-retorting object of his affections. — Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 12 May 2026 Between the romantic fantasy of Anna and her two swains, the swoony Tuscan locales bathed in creamy golden light, and the tomatoes, You, Me & Tuscany delivers everything its title promises. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 10 Apr. 2026 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 — Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2025 But in the new film, the unnamed swain has been replaced by a Robin Hood-style heartthrob named Jonathan (Andrew Burnap), who leads a defiant group of bandits that steals from the monarchy and gives to the poor.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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swain
  1. boyfriend
  2. lover
  3. beau
  4. suitor
  5. boy
  6. fellow
  7. man
Noun
  • Agata, who at first barely acknowledges their connection, has been more independent, living with a roommate and working at the hospital, and recently getting serious with a boyfriend.
    — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 11 July 2026
  • Taylor Swift, Miss Americana, had tied the knot with her football-star boyfriend Travis Kelce at a ceremony described as the US’ royal wedding.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 11 July 2026
Definition of boyfriend
Noun
  • The move is contentious, with environmentalists supporting the removal, while tribes and horse lovers are heartbroken.
    — Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • Boating rules Sacramento’s local waterways are an valuable resource for boat-lovers in the area, but changing water conditions and strong currents require operators to stay alert.
    — Haley Parsley July 9, Sacbee.com, 9 July 2026
Definition of lover
Noun
  • The accolades come just five days after Swift married beau Travis Kelce in an extravagant — yet secretive — Manhattan affair at Madison Square Garden.
    — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • Hundreds of celebrities and A-Listers flocked to New York City for the Fourth of July weekend to celebrate Swift’s nuptials with her Super Bowl-winning beau at Madison Square Garden — but the 47-year-old actress and model was notably not among them.
    — Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 9 July 2026
Definition of beau
Noun
  • If the Mets do want to move on from Bichette, though, his high salary wouldn’t be the only thing to overcome with a potential suitor.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
  • The Odyssey also features the nymph Calypso (Charlize Theron) and Penelope’s sniveling suitor, Antinous (Robert Pattinson), who is seeking to marry the queen and become the ruler of Ithaca.
    — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 6 July 2026
Definition of suitor
Noun
  • Every year, a group of 50 boys must complete the titular Long Walk, traveling at 3mph or faster until only one remains.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 12 July 2026
  • Adding to Marmion’s 13 boys sports, the girls will start out with seven — swimming, volleyball and cross-country in the fall; basketball and wrestling in the winter; soccer and track and field in the spring.
    — Dave Oberhelman, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2026
Definition of boy
Noun
  • Jesse and Shilpa chat with fellow editor, and Bake Club’s first guest contributor, Rebecca Firkser, about all things galette, and award the latest Baker of the Month.
    — Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 July 2026
  • Corey DeAngelis is a research fellow at the Heritage Foundation and a senior fellow at Americans for Fair Treatment.
    — Corey DeAngelis, Washington Post, 9 July 2026
Definition of fellow
Noun
  • In May, a former federal agent was arrested and charged with multiple counts of assault and falsely reporting a crime after making false statements under oath regarding the nonfatal shooting of a Venezuelan man in Minneapolis in January.
    — Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 8 July 2026
  • Cohen argued that women leave STEM fields at disproportionately higher rates than men and that the issue isn’t simply a pipeline problem.
    — Janice Gassam Asare, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of man

Browse Nearby Words

swags
swain
swains
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Cite this Entry

“Swain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swain. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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