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
  • As with Yarmosky, Holmes seemed to be having fun with these boyfriends, according to The Cut.
    — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 15 July 2026
  • The singer and Gomez met through their respective ex-boyfriends, Joe and Nick Jonas, in 2008.
    — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 2 July 2026
Definition of boyfriends
Noun
  • But to nature lovers like me, swamps are magical, teeming with wildlife — places of tranquility filled with otherworldly beauty.
    — Charles Seabrook, AJC.com, 25 July 2026
  • That way, avocados and their lovers alike can continue to thrive in the future.
    — July 24, NPR, 24 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 Heat are on a shortlist of suitors for James, 41, who turned a free agent 23 days ago.
    — Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026
  • In Nolan and Hathaway’s interpretation, Penelope is a more calculating power player, keeping at bay the wolfish suitors who show up hoping to take Odysseus’ place and working the angles to preserve her son’s chance of assuming the throne.
    — Brent Lang, Variety, 21 July 2026
Definition of suitors
Noun
  • Before that, though, 25-year-old Stephanie Hartwell walked her four children — a girl, twin boys, and a younger boy — to the bus stop and sent them off to school.
    — Samantha Springer, NBC news, 19 July 2026
  • With both boys squarely in their young adulthood, the film not only uses intimacy to depict the evolution of their relationship but also offers a realistic representation of teen sexuality.
    — Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 18 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
  • After romance, the top genres for men are comedy, action, sci-fi and thrillers.
    — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 24 July 2026
  • Surveillance footage shows the three men entering the Mercedes-Benz the night of the shooting, the statements said.
    — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 24 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 26 Jul. 2026.

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