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
But in the new film, the unnamed swain has been replaced by a Robin Hood-style heartthrob named Jonathan (Andrew Burnap), who leads a defiant group of bandits that steals from the monarchy and gives to the poor.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
The British actor finds the humor and sensitivity in his lustful swain, and his mellifluous voice is perfectly matched to Shakespeare’s prose.
—Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 25 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
He’s never outgrown the image of himself as the swain, the young lover.
—Cressida Leyshon, The New Yorker, 8 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
The old residents remember when San Luis Rey was the second locality in the county, and the feast of San Luis (26th August) was an important epoch, with it, carreras and bades, forming the chief topic of conversation with dusky swain and maiden for miles around.
—Merrie Monteagudo, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2021
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
The British actor finds the humor and sensitivity in his lustful swain, and his mellifluous voice is perfectly matched to Shakespeare’s prose.
—Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 25 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
He’s never outgrown the image of himself as the swain, the young lover.
—Cressida Leyshon, The New Yorker, 8 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
The old residents remember when San Luis Rey was the second locality in the county, and the feast of San Luis (26th August) was an important epoch, with it, carreras and bades, forming the chief topic of conversation with dusky swain and maiden for miles around.
—Merrie Monteagudo, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swain
Noun
-
Karen Read’s second murder trial entered its fifth week of witness testimony as prosecutors continue to build their case against the Massachusetts woman accused of killing her Boston police officer boyfriend.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
20 May 2025
-
At the party, Steven and Taylor almost kiss, but her boyfriend shows up and tries to fight Steven.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
EW.com,
20 May 2025
Noun
-
About 75 members of the group will perform in the coming week at three churches in Broward County before taking a summer break and then inviting fellow music lovers to audition in August.—
Lois K. Solomon,
Sun Sentinel,
13 May 2025
-
In just a few days, Morgan Wallen's inaugural Sand in My Boots festival will be underway on the beaches of the Gulf Shores, Alabama, bringing country music lovers together for fun in the sun.—
Daniela Avila,
People.com,
12 May 2025
Noun
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For months now, Taylor Swift fans have been playing their own version of where’s Waldo, waiting (sometimes impatiently) for the superstar to appear in public with her beau, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
11 May 2025
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Ciara is there with her beau, Russell Wilson, as Future walks the carpet not far behind them.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
6 May 2025
Noun
-
The video quickly gained traction, and soon, applications from hopeful suitors began pouring in.—
Ashley Vega,
People.com,
5 May 2025
-
But unbeknownst to these would-be suitors, the host’s lower abdomen has been eaten away by the fungus and, rather horrifically, replaced by a plug of spores.—
Cody Cottier,
Discover Magazine,
5 May 2025
Noun
-
The only lights were from a few fellow early risers with their headlamps bobbing around in the dark.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
21 May 2025
-
In previous downturns, every additional dollar spent on SNAP generates about $1.54 in returns to the economy, according to Elaine Waxman, senior fellow at the Urban Institute’s tax and income support division.—
Lorie Konish,
CNBC,
21 May 2025
Noun
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Hikers in New York state have found the remains of a Canadian man who was missing for five months in the Adirondack Mountains, officials say.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
14 May 2025
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Still: There’s something a little nasty about using a man’s long-ago loyalty oath as an excuse to simply kill him for safety, especially when the whole operation is burned anyway, yes?—
Jesse Hassenger,
Vulture,
14 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Swain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swain. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
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