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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swains
Noun
-
Husbands and boyfriends have been booking birthday celebrations and surprise date nights for their ladies.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
29 May 2026 -
The black widow is not only the namesake of an Avenger, but used as a term for female serial killers that take out their husbands and boyfriends, as black widow spiders sometimes eat their male partners.—
Eva Flowe
May 28,
Charlotte Observer,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
At the end of season two, Lestat and Louis have reunited as lovers.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
7 June 2026
-
For nature lovers, surfers, divers and fishermen, the setting offers both seclusion and connection.—
Spencer Elliott,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
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
Noun
-
Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Crystal Palace have been among his suitors, and though Hackney’s preference is to join Everton, interest in the 23-year-old remains from elsewhere.—
David Ornstein,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
-
There have been bread crumbs and clues about several suitors, but very little information that’s credible and definitive.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
Young boys, some no older than five or six, showed off their marksmanship by throwing reeds like spears with perfect accuracy, and the men demonstrated their precision with bow and arrow.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
Langston shared a personal story about a Fort Worth athlete who wanted to play football, and had to play tackle with boys before girls flag leagues started to pop up.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
Today, the gardens continue that legacy through a two-year horticulture program and a fellows program designed to train the next generation of garden leaders.—
Madeleine Wright,
CBS News,
10 June 2026
-
As part of the agreement, the medical school faculty, students, residents and fellows will be allowed to teach and conduct research in Fairview’s health care facilities.—
Imani Cruzen,
Twin Cities,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
South Africa was reduced to nine men after Themba Zwane struck Álvarado off the ball.—
Eduard Cauich,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
-
In addition to Willis Reed, the Pro-Keds Royal was endorsed by fellow big men George Mikan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, with the latter going on to join Adidas and becoming the first player to have an entirely new sneaker designed for him.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
11 June 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Swains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swains. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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