Then opes the casks, which good Acestes, fain / at parting, filled on the Trinacrian beach, / and shares the wine, and soothes their drooping hearts with speech.
Source: tatoeba (6784988)
Fain
/feɪn/
Synonyms for "fain" (68 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (14)
Adverb(1 words)
aching foracquiescentagreeablealacritousamenableardentbent oncompliantconsentingcontentcooperativecrazy todesirous of
Strong matches (20)
Related words (34)
in the moodinclinedinclined towarditching forkeen onleaning towardmad onmindedpartial topliantpredisposedpromptpronequickreadyready and willingreceptiveresponsiveset onspoiling for
Show 8 more words
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: gladly, aching for, acquiescent, agreeable, alacritous.
- Sentence evidence is available for fain, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "fain".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "fain"
Keep "fain" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "fain" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "fain", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "fain" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
4 entriesMore specific
5 entriesCollocations
9 entriesbe fain tofain to believefain to departfain to gofain to sayfain would arguefain would complyfain would consentwould fain
Derivations
2 entriessimilar
1 entriesSample sentences
46 total sentences available.
"And now already from the heaven's high steep / the dewy night wheels down, and sinking slow, / the stars are gently wooing us to sleep. / But, if thy longing be so great to know / the tale of Troy's last agony and woe, / the toils we suffered, though my heart doth ache, / and grief would fain the memory forego / of scenes so sad, yet, Lady, for thy sake / I will begin," and thus the sire of Troy outspake:
Source: tatoeba (6804488)
"But when Ulysses, fain / to weave new crimes, with Tydeus' impious son / dragged the Palladium from her sacred fane, / and, on the citadel the warders slain, / upon the virgin's image dared to lay / red hands of slaughter, and her wreaths profane, / hope ebbed and failed them from that fatal day, / the Danaans' strength grew weak, the goddess turned away. / No dubious signs Tritonia's wrath declared."
Source: tatoeba (6813957)
As when a wounded bull / shakes from his neck the faltering axe and, fain / to fly the cruel altars, roars in pain.
Source: tatoeba (6814591)
Showing 4 of 46 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "fain"?
Closest matches include gladly, aching for, acquiescent, agreeable, alacritous.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "fain"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.