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
Similar to the Broadway musical, the new movie ends with Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and her strawman swain Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) walking into the sunset away from Oz, after the revelation that Elphaba staged her own melting death by hiding under a trapdoor.
—
Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 22 Nov. 2025
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But in the new film, the unnamed swain has been replaced by a Robin Hood-style heartthrob named Jonathan (Andrew Burnap), who leads a defiant group of bandits that steals from the monarchy and gives to the poor.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
Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 22 Nov. 2025
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But in the new film, the unnamed swain has been replaced by a Robin Hood-style heartthrob named Jonathan (Andrew Burnap), who leads a defiant group of bandits that steals from the monarchy and gives to the poor.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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swain
Noun
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There was a bit of screaming by girls, but the boyfriends who went along wanted to listen to the band.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Apr. 2026
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Jane Krakowski poses with her architect boyfriend David Rockwell at the opening night of Roundabout Theatre Company's production of Fallen Angels on Broadway on April 19 in New York City.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
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That’s probably why class-crossed lovers make such fertile ground for fiction—look at Heathcliff and Cathy, or poor Scudder and Maurice.—
Cressida Leyshon,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
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Options for 2026 include food cruises that travel through Burgundy and Provence and a 15-day wine lovers cruise on the Rhine and Seine Rivers.—
Beth Luberecki,
USA Today,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
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She’ll be joined by the ensemble of Rachel Brosnahan (who is Superman’s current beau Lois Lane), Skyler Gisondo (Jimmy Olsen), Sara Sampaio (Eve Teschmacher), Isabela Merced (Hawkgirl), Nathan Fillion (Guy Gardner), Edi Gathegi (Mister Terrific) and Aaron Pierre (John Stewart/Green Lantern).—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
20 Apr. 2026
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Her billionaire beau wore a suit with an oxblood tie.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Wilson has long been expected to depart as a free agent and has suitors in the Premier League and beyond.—
David Ornstein,
New York Times,
16 Apr. 2026
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Both rival suitors insisted that the other’s deal would present monopoly issues.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The two boys look at each other and then take three snailish steps toward the open window of the Lincoln, the older with his arm flung horizontal like hazard tape across his brother's chest.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
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Naqvi, a poster-boy of late-20th-century globalization, was a notable standard-bearer for this mission.—
Hettie O'Brien,
The Dial,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Rene Morales, senior curatorial fellow at the Bakehouse Art Complex in Wynwood and former chief curator at PAMM, recently swung by for a studio visit with Palazzolo-Daboul, and, intrigued, ended up scouting out the rest of Tunnel.—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
17 Apr. 2026
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The heavily-Democratic district wasn't likely to elect a Republican, William Galston, senior fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution, previously told USA TODAY.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Two men carried an effigy of Maduro, his eyes blood-red, and his teeth vampiric, wearing a prison jumpsuit with a chain around his neck.—
Diego Lasarte,
New Yorker,
21 Apr. 2026
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Thomas then claimed police later told her that Kierra may have been dating another man.—
Aya Al-Hakim,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swain. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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