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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of swain
But in the new film, the unnamed swain has been replaced by a Robin Hood-style heartthrob named Jonathan (Andrew Burnap), who leads a defiant group of bandits that steals from the monarchy and gives to the poor.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
The British actor finds the humor and sensitivity in his lustful swain, and his mellifluous voice is perfectly matched to Shakespeare’s prose.
—Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 25 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
He’s never outgrown the image of himself as the swain, the young lover.
—Cressida Leyshon, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
Kramer, once again showing infinite tact, dissuaded the swain.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Dec. 2023
Stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth return for the fourth time as ace archer Everdeen and her pair of devoted swains, director Francis Lawrence is back for his third film, and screenwriters Peter Craig and Danny Strong mark this as their second effort.
—Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 19 Nov. 2023
The old residents remember when San Luis Rey was the second locality in the county, and the feast of San Luis (26th August) was an important epoch, with it, carreras and bades, forming the chief topic of conversation with dusky swain and maiden for miles around.
—Merrie Monteagudo, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2021
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
The British actor finds the humor and sensitivity in his lustful swain, and his mellifluous voice is perfectly matched to Shakespeare’s prose.
—Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 25 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
He’s never outgrown the image of himself as the swain, the young lover.
—Cressida Leyshon, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
Kramer, once again showing infinite tact, dissuaded the swain.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Dec. 2023
Stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth return for the fourth time as ace archer Everdeen and her pair of devoted swains, director Francis Lawrence is back for his third film, and screenwriters Peter Craig and Danny Strong mark this as their second effort.
—Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 19 Nov. 2023
The old residents remember when San Luis Rey was the second locality in the county, and the feast of San Luis (26th August) was an important epoch, with it, carreras and bades, forming the chief topic of conversation with dusky swain and maiden for miles around.
—Merrie Monteagudo, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swain
Noun
-
Jenny's boyfriend, Jonah (Franco); and Morgan's husband, Chris (Eastwood).—
EW.com,
EW.com,
31 July 2025
-
Mia Tomlinson plays Judy Warren, Ed and Lorraine Warren’s daughter and Ben Hardy, who plays her boyfriend (now husband), Tony Spera.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
31 July 2025
Noun
-
On the hunt for the key to a country music lover’s heart?—
Ramal Nasim
July 25,
Kansas City Star,
25 July 2025
-
Beach lovers should check out Britannia Beach and then continue to drive north towards Sea to Sky Gondola.—
Miriam Porter,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
Noun
-
As for Rihanna, the Grammy winner and current beau A$AP Rocky have two sons, RZA and Riot, and are expecting their third.—
DeMicia Inman,
VIBE.com,
23 July 2025
-
Sarah, Duchess of York, who had separated from Prince Andrew, was soaking up the sun in St. Tropez with her beau, financier John Bryan.—
Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa,
FOXNews.com,
13 July 2025
Noun
-
Rashford’s wage meant potential suitors comprised a narrow field.—
David Ornstein,
New York Times,
22 July 2025
-
Alan Rickman, with his deep, mellow, softly puffing voice, is immensely sympathetic as that most patient of suitors, Colonel Brandon.—
Tom Gliatto,
People.com,
19 July 2025
Noun
-
Elsewhere, fellow chipmakers Advanced Micro Devices and Club holding Broadcom were solidly higher, as earnings from the likes of Cadence Design Systems cast a positive due on the broader AI trade.—
Paulina Likos,
CNBC,
29 July 2025
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Corporations can make political donations via political action committees, or PACs, or by having executives and employees make contributions in their personal capacities, according to Mark Jones, a political science fellow at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.—
Cody Copeland,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 July 2025
Noun
-
Ages 50-over men’s softball league seeks players The Lakes League Men’s Softball League, for ages 50 and over, will play in October at Pear Park, 26701 U.S. Highway 27, Leesburg.—
Orlando Sentinel Staff,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 July 2025
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Those same schools can give their men’s basketball programs the largest cut of the revenue sharing pie, rather than the 20 percent that most of their high-major colleagues should receive.—
Brendan Marks,
New York Times,
24 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Swain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swain. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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