swains

noun

plural of swain
1
as in boyfriends
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 wooers
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 swains 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swains
  1. boyfriends
  2. lovers
  3. beaux
  4. suitors
  5. boys
  6. fellows
  7. men
Noun
  • Cricket’s heart is always pointed firmly toward Olympia’s, while her attention moves restlessly from him to a succession of other boyfriends and artists.
    — Tope Folarin, The Atlantic, 22 July 2026
  • As with Yarmosky, Holmes seemed to be having fun with these boyfriends, according to The Cut.
    — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 15 July 2026
Definition of boyfriends
Noun
  • This menu is easily intriguing enough to lure food lovers back for chef Mederos’ tasting menu.
    — Connie Ogle July 31, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
  • The book pays homage to all your classic romance tropes — fake relationship, enemies to lovers, boy next door — but spins them on their head in this new take on what happily ever after looks like.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 31 July 2026
Definition of lovers
Noun
  • So are their girlfriends and wives, who support their beaus in stadiums and at home.
    — Kate Hogan, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Despite some very not-so-subtle hints from yours truly, my past beaus have never gifted me a handbag on Valentine’s Day, either.
    — Michelle Baricevic, InStyle, 26 Jan. 2026
Definition of beaux
Noun
  • The thuggish suitors dining in Odysseus and Penelope’s castle see the queen as a prize, not a human being.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 29 July 2026
  • Doing so could serve the purpose of sparking other suitors into action.
    — Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 28 July 2026
Definition of suitors
Noun
  • While boys are still diagnosed at roughly 2 to 3 times the rate of girls, those disparities even out in adulthood.
    — Maria Godoy, NPR, 26 July 2026
  • The 30 boys and 30 girls were each split into teams of five, each with a different color.
    — Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2026
Definition of boys
Noun
  • Peter Rough and Ulrich Speck are senior fellows at the Hudson Institute.
    — Peter Rough, Washington Post, 15 July 2026
  • The Alliance of Women Directors has found a roster of Hollywood mentors for its class of 2026 fellows.
    — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2026
Definition of fellows
Noun
  • Not even one of the most optimistic men in the country can deny that one of the biggest projects in the history of Texas won’t have some impact on the University of Texas football team.
    — Mac Engel July 31, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 July 2026
  • Police say two men in a four-door black Cadillac displayed a handgun and demanded an arrow key, which opens collection boxes.
    — Tammy Mutasa, CBS News, 31 July 2026
Definition of men

Browse Nearby Words

swain
swains
swale
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Cite this Entry

“Swains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swains. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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