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
  • And, if so, what will happen to all those chatbot boyfriends?
    — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026
  • People’s responses were also colored by everyone suddenly having lawyers and managers and agents, wives, husbands, boyfriends, girlfriends, friends.
    — Michael Schneider, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of boyfriends
Noun
  • Dylan’s sneer and Mick Ronson’s guitar jab like fingers in some intense argument, trying to win the pyrrhic victory of a lovers’ quarrel.
    — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Now comes Netflix’s spin on the romantic comedy to end all romantic comedies, starring Emma Corrin and Jack Lowden as the characters at the center of literature’s original enemies-to-lovers trope.
    — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 5 Nov. 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
  • Thankfully, Brandon is one of Austen’s most introspective suitors, and Nordrum is not unlike the character in real life — thoughtful, gentle and a little self-effacing.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Nevertheless, their male relatives and their suitors have travelled far.
    — Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of suitors
Noun
  • Quimby’s grandmother made a Wally cake that both boys immediately recognized, while her grandfather contributed cookies decorated with a Red Sox jersey and logo.
    — Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Little boys tossed a football back and forth along the street while parents watched, sharing food and conversations with those around them.
    — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of boys
Noun
  • The fellows begin their days with a morning prayer session and take time away from their work on the farm to celebrate Shabbat together.
    — Adrienne Krone, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 2026
  • During Thursday's protest, hundreds of resident physicians and fellows demanded negotiators return to the bargaining table.
    — Payton May, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of fellows
Noun
  • However, the appointment has received flak, as comments James made about the case before she was tapped to lead the investigation have drawn accusations of bias from lawyers of the seven men accused.
    — Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Newsom moved to grant clemency to 548 people currently sentenced to death in California, of whom 529 are men and 19 are women, according to numbers provided by his office.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Nov. 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 9 Nov. 2026.

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