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
  • More passengers are paying for business class and premium economy, airports continue to invest heavily in lounges, and the wider travel experience has become increasingly tiered around consumers willing to spend for greater comfort and convenience.
    — Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Emery’s desire to blood Madjo early was ultimately reflected in picking him to start ahead of Tammy Abraham — who the club are willing to listen to offers for — in Salzburg.
    — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of willing
Adverb
  • However, emerging research suggests that these neurons are not a unified group, but rather have distinct molecular identities.
    — Isabella Backman, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026
  • That seems rather unfair on those who operated well under their PSR limit, and a concession offered by the EFL arrives in the form of a transitional ‘allowable headroom injection’.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of rather
Adjective
  • So come hungry and ready to be a part of one big Italian family!
    — Jessica Guay, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Adams is yet to feature in pre-season but should be ready for Matchday 1, while Justin Kluivert, who has played well since returning from the World Cup with the Netherlands, should slot into the No 10 role.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of ready
Adverb
  • What happened to the colonists remains unknown, but archaeological finds—including otherwise anachronistic English artifacts on Hatteras Island—give some support to White’s theory that at least some of the colonists relocated willingly.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026
  • By suggesting that Black women would willingly place their own children in mortal danger for profit, such narratives provided yet another means of humiliating, degrading and dehumanizing African Americans.
    — The Conversation, The Conversation, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of willingly
Adjective
  • Expo Idaho is glad to be a part of something that is open out into the world.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Still, when the Valkyries need a bucket, Zandalasini’s teammates are always glad to see the ball in her hands.
    — Marisa Ingemi, Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of glad
Adjective
  • Some kinds of trees, such as honey locusts, hackberries, lindens and maples, are naturally more inclined to produce suckers.
    — Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Democrats who view the term negatively are less inclined to see their party as effective or strong.
    — Anthony Salvanto, CBS News, 16 Aug. 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
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Cite this Entry

“Fain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fain. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of fain for Spanish Speakers

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