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 — Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2025 But in the new film, the unnamed swain has been replaced by a Robin Hood-style heartthrob named Jonathan (Andrew Burnap), who leads a defiant group of bandits that steals from the monarchy and gives to the poor.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
  • Back in her hometown and involved once again with her family’s chocolate business, Linda reunites with her former boyfriend and, amid the traditions of Christmas in Gramado, rediscovers the possibility of opening her heart to love.
    — Marcelo Cajueiro, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026
  • In the video, her boyfriend Justin Trudeau was seen kissing her backstage.
    — Meg Walters, InStyle, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of boyfriend
Noun
  • Talking Animals Books in Grapevine is leading the second annual event, encouraging book lovers to wander beyond Main Street and into the heart of the area's indie literary scene.
    — CBS News Texas Staff, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Storch does not pretend to be a long-distance lover of English football.
    — Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of lover
Noun
  • Sara Howe, a carriage driving trainer who often sees Louise and her beau at competitions, told Hello!
    — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Berry, who turns 60 on August 14, didn’t share any photos of her musician beau in Tuesday’s post.
    — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 29 July 2026
Definition of beau
Noun
  • Hackney attracted widespread interest from Premier League clubs this summer, holding discussions with around eight potential suitors.
    — Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
  • As for the story, neither the Phantom nor the callow boyfriend struck me as proper suitors for Christine.
    — David Allen, Daily News, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of suitor
Noun
  • The original film follows a young boy named Miguel who feels a calling to music against his family’s wishes.
    — Matt Minton, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Fans may recall that Agatha helped Bill track down the soul of his twin, Tommy (aka Speed), and place him into the body of a teen boy who drowned, Thomas Shepherd.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of boy
Noun
  • With more than 5,000 people aboard, keeping them all unified and focused as one team is difficult in a ship larger than some small towns, said Jennifer Parker, a former Royal Australian Navy officer and nonresident fellow at the Lowy Institute.
    — Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Tyler Mahle pitched six strong innings and fellow trade deadline acquisition Lane Thomas homered in the Atlanta Braves' 6-3 victory over the New York Mets on Wednesday night.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of fellow
Noun
  • Officers were already at an unrelated car crash two blocks away when they were summoned to a single-family home in Windfield based on a 911 call from a man who identified himself as the shooter, Windfield Police Chief Robbie DeLong said.
    — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The mother of 19-year-old Izick Aminartey is remembering her son as a loving young man after he was identified as one of two people killed in a shooting in Essex, Maryland.
    — Drew Aunkst, CBS News, 12 Aug. 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 17 Aug. 2026.

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