1
as in boyfriend
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 lover
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
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Recent Examples of swain
Similar to the Broadway musical, the new movie ends with Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and her strawman swain Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) walking into the sunset away from Oz, after the revelation that Elphaba staged her own melting death by hiding under a trapdoor.
—
Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 22 Nov. 2025
As the two lovers, Robin Wright as the comely princess and Cary Elwes as her loving swain are engaging and appealing.
—Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2025
But in the new film, the unnamed swain has been replaced by a Robin Hood-style heartthrob named Jonathan (Andrew Burnap), who leads a defiant group of bandits that steals from the monarchy and gives to the poor.
—Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2025
Science emerges as a version of the pastoral, with the physicist as swain.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024
Odette is a shape-shifter, from woman to swan, under sorcerer Rothbart’s spell, only to be broken when a swain pledges true love to her—Siegfried to the rescue.
—Guillermo Perez, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2024
Kramer, once again showing infinite tact, dissuaded the swain.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Dec. 2023
Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 22 Nov. 2025
As the two lovers, Robin Wright as the comely princess and Cary Elwes as her loving swain are engaging and appealing.
—Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2025
But in the new film, the unnamed swain has been replaced by a Robin Hood-style heartthrob named Jonathan (Andrew Burnap), who leads a defiant group of bandits that steals from the monarchy and gives to the poor.
—Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2025
Science emerges as a version of the pastoral, with the physicist as swain.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024
Odette is a shape-shifter, from woman to swan, under sorcerer Rothbart’s spell, only to be broken when a swain pledges true love to her—Siegfried to the rescue.
—Guillermo Perez, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2024
Kramer, once again showing infinite tact, dissuaded the swain.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Dec. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swain
Noun
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The boyfriend’s really sexy and loving and listens, and the husband’s really stable and good with the kids.—
Daisy Jones,
Vogue,
10 Feb. 2026
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When detectives confronted him with evidence that pointed to an indoor shooting, the boyfriend asked for a lawyer.—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Science aside, a batch of these will win over any chocolate lover, regardless of where their brownie loyalties lie.—
Maggie Meyer Glisan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Feb. 2026
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Looking to build out a universe or find a great gift for a pop culture lover?—
Brittany Anas,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Tom Brady Former football pro Tom Brady makes a brief appearance as Aniston's new beau.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Feb. 2026
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The game saw the rapper's beau, Stefon Diggs, take the field as a wide receiver for the New England Patriots.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Milwaukee opted to not deal Giannis Antetokounmpo, leaving in the lurch several suitors including Miami.—
Greg Cote
February 8,
Miami Herald,
8 Feb. 2026
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However, sources familiar with the situation say more suitors have been involved and could make bids.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
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As of Tuesday afternoon, Cannon remained listed as a boy’s basketball coach at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on the school’s roster.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Feb. 2026
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The head coach for the defending City Section Open Division champion boys soccer team is Ian Kogan, whose daughter, Jordyn, is a top defender for the El Camino Real girls team.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Served as deputy regional organizer and get out the vote director during the 2024 election cycle, managing a team of 26 fellows at UNC Charlotte and helping nearly double turnout in a campus precinct compared to 2020.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Feb. 2026
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Adam told his fellow Panarchists about our bind, and they were stoked to host one of the world’s wildest bands.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Athletes from seven different countries, including Japan, rank among the top 10 in the current women’s World Cup standings compared to just the traditional four for men.—
Dana ONeil,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
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Machado wrote in a post on X that Juan Pablo Guanipa, a key ally, was kidnapped by heavily armed men in civilian clothing in the Los Chorros area of the capital.—
Ashley Carnahan,
FOXNews.com,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swain. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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