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
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
Adjective
-
The question is whether Colossal’s leaders and supporters are willing to pivot from a project that grabs news headlines to ones that would likely make positive differences.—
Nitin Sekar,
ArsTechnica,
5 Apr. 2025 -
There’s not one person in that locker room who’s not willing to sacrifice for somebody else.—
Hunter Patterson,
New York Times,
5 Apr. 2025
Adverb
-
Despite the production, Hendrickson is now in a rather messy contract negotiation with the Bengals.—
Daniel Popper,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
-
Health concerns weren’t the only reason for the ban, however; rather, some voters believed claims that fluoridation was part of a communist plot against the country.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
But the Gamecocks machine is ready to backfill, with MiLaysia Fulwiley, Tessa Johnson and Joyce Edwards waiting in the wings.—
Sabreena Merchant,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
-
Currently, once the company has an embryo ready to grow, researchers insert it in a host animal, but such surrogates are limited in number and expensive to work with, and come with many potential health complications.—
D. T. Max,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The charms are at a significantly lower price point, and Macaulay is glad to be opening the brand up to a broader base.—
Celia Shatzman,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Looking ahead, the pair is glad to be staying in Florida with their husbands and their kids, Hoedt's 7-week-old Margaret and Mellquist's 19-month-old Willow.—
Zoey Lyttle,
People.com,
6 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Martin: So at the moment, the defense secretary Hegseth doesn't seem inclined to resign and the president doesn't seem inclined to ask him to or require him to.—
Obed Manuel,
NPR,
27 Mar. 2025
-
Congressional Republicans were not inclined to deny Hegseth his appointment or to risk the President’s wrath.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
26 Mar. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Fain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fain. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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