1
as in boyfriend
a male romantic companion
a romanticized portrait of a bygone era of beauteous Southern belles and their gallant swains
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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But in the new film, the unnamed swain has been replaced by a Robin Hood-style heartthrob named Jonathan (Andrew Burnap), who leads a defiant group of bandits that steals from the monarchy and gives to the poor.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
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Also back on Bravo, years after getting fired from Vanderpump for racist mischief, was perennial pot-stirrer Kristen Doute, now trying to get pregnant with her boyfriend, soft-spoken L.A. outsider Luke Broderick.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
13 Aug. 2025
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Swift made the announcement with the help of boyfriend Travis Kelce and his brother Jason Kelce on their New Heights podcast.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
People.com,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Car lovers, get ready to head up north to watch Corvettes compete for awards and parade across the Mighty Mac this weekend.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
18 Aug. 2025
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Today, Travelers Rest still lives up to its name, serving as a haven for nature lovers, food enthusiasts, and those seeking adventure.—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
17 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Those accompanying videos, both of which feature her beau, actor Aaron Pierre, count 2.2 million and 1.2 million views, respectively, on YouTube.—
Gail Mitchell,
Billboard,
14 Aug. 2025
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Tracing her whereabouts leads first to current beau Money (Method Man), who joins Jaxen in the search.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
1 Aug. 2025
Noun
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These days in college football, a list of suitors often is soon to follow, especially for a 6-foot-5½, 272-pound sophomore with a 38½-inch vertical leap and untapped potential.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 Aug. 2025
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Liverpool, who Palace defeated on penalties in the Community Shield on Sunday, are one of Guehi’s suitors.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
11 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Beki San Martin is a fellow at the Detroit Free Press who covers childcare, early childhood education and other issues that affect the lives of children ages 5 and under and their families in metro Detroit and across Michigan.—
Beki San Martin,
Freep.com,
13 Aug. 2025
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The on-screen re-teaming of Curtis and fellow Freaky Friday star Lindsay Lohan was a cast reunion 22 years in the making, but the stars aren't the only ones making a grand return.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
10 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The wallet would end up going on a 151,000-mile odyssey across multiple states before a mechanic in Minnesota last month discovered that the obstacle that was preventing him from putting the vehicle's airbox back in place was — a man's leather wallet.—
Jamie L. LaReau,
USA Today,
18 Aug. 2025
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Drill sergeants—not therapy Faced with the ultimate in fitness standards, men and women throughout the military obsess over their weight and body shapes, experts say.—
Noelle Wiehe,
The Orlando Sentinel,
17 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Swain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swain. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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