fain 1 of 2

adjective

ˈfān How to pronounce fain (audio)
Definition of fainnext
as in willing
having a desire or inclination (as for a specified course of action) during the Renaissance most men of science and the arts were fain to express their noblest thoughts in Latin, the lingua franca of the learned

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fain

2 of 2

adverb

as in rather
by choice or preference "I would fain not marry that suitor, my lord," the princess pleaded

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fain
  1. willing
  2. rather
  3. ready
  4. willingly
  5. glad
  6. inclined
Adjective
  • Audiences are more willing than ever to consume and accept differentiated content – look at the success of phenomena such as Obsession and Backrooms.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
  • For weddings, big celebrations, or private dinners for couples willing to pay the price, events and meals can be organized by the hotel inside the Château.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of willing
Adverb
  • But just moments later, as the name of lead star Andrew Scott appeared on stage, the loud snuffles were replaced with whoops and, in rather uncharacteristically British style, a standing ovation for the actor.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
  • This is the man who made the two-and-a-half-hour, stream-of-consciousness passion project Bardo (2022), after all, which several critics also found rather abrasive and self-indulgent.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of rather
Adjective
  • Billed as an immersive matchmaking experience and a new take on the dating show, the format features singletons who are tired of swiping and first dates and are ready to get hitched.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
  • When they were scheduled to play in Rio, they were seen as an encapsulation of a nefarious past the country was ready to move away from.
    — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of ready
Adverb
  • The film’s central question, as Coon sees it, is why someone might willingly abandon a conventional life for an alternative community.
    — Katherine Brodsky, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
  • For some activists, willingly accepting arrest becomes another visible demonstration of commitment.
    — Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of willingly
Adjective
  • Somewhere between all the wings and dips, someone will be glad to see something fresh.
    — Danielle Bouchard, Martha Stewart, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The 6-foot, 200-pound Jenkins, known as Lightz by his teammates, wasn’t nervous about taking the field, just glad to be back on the football field.
    — Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of glad
Adjective
  • Rush’s musical complexity leaned towards proggy adventures with time signatures and song structure, while Steely Dan were more inclined to wedge wild stacks of jazz chords into pop songs.
    — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Iconic fashion houses and brands on the rise showcased pieces that sartorially inclined brides will be clamoring to get their hands on in time for their celebrations.
    — Shelby Wax, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of inclined
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.

Browse Nearby Words

failures
fain
faint
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Cite this Entry

“Fain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fain. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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