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
  • Nature lovers, artists (Ansel Adams found a muse in the Snake River), and outdoor adventurers know the gateway to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks is more than just a winter sports destination.
    — Lindsay Cohn, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The professionalization worked, but at the expense of the site’s internal culture, Cooke argues, as generous eccentrics were displaced by neurotic lovers of rules.
    — Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 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
  • Outside the old red-brick Victorian mansion, framed by palm trees, two teenage boys zip around the car park on unicycles.
    — Julie Bourdin, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Told without the participation of a single male actor, The Women turned Hollywood’s all-boys club on its head, becoming a major hit in a year dominated by Gone With the Wind and The Wizard of Oz.
    — Raymond Ang, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of boys
Noun
  • This year’s edition will also run its fellowship program, with seven fellows mentored by Bhutanese director Dechen Roder and Indian independent filmmakers Umesh Kulkarni and Dominic Sangma.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The foundation named its first class of eight fellows last week.
    — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of fellows
Noun
  • Women tolerate heat better than men and can sit in a sauna, absorb heat and vasodilate, triggering heat shock protein responses.
    — Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The diaper brand Coterie is running an ad in Golf Digest, whose readership is 75% men.
    — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 22 Oct. 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 Oct. 2026.

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