Word.ws English Dictionary

Synonyms of fain

38 similar words · 5 opposite words

Another word for fain is disposed. Other synonyms of fain are keen, lief, raring, delight and perk up.

Synonyms and similar words for fain

adjectiveChiefly followed by to, or (obsolete) for or of: eager or willing, or inclined.

verbTo make (someone) glad; to gladden; hence, to congratulate (someone); to welcome (someone).

  • delightTo give delight to; to affect with great pleasure; to please highly.
  • perk upTo cause to be more lively or enthusiastic.
  • beatifyTo make blissful.
  • enraptureTo fill with great delight or joy; to fascinate or captivate.
  • begladdenTo gladden about or all over; make glad; overjoy.
  • blissenTo make blissful or happy; fill with or impart bliss to.
  • brightOften followed by up: to cause (someone or something) to be bright (in various senses); to brighten; specifically, to...
  • cheerTo gladden; to make cheerful; often with up.
  • fetch
  • cheer upTo make someone happier or less downcast.
  • contentTo give contentment or satisfaction to; to satisfy; to make happy.
  • elateTo make joyful or proud.
  • enblissTo endue or fill with bliss; impart bliss to; make happy.
  • exhilarateTo cheer, to cheer up, to gladden, to make happy, to elate.
  • gladden
  • gratifyTo please.
  • happifyTo make happy.
  • happyOften followed by up: to make happy; to brighten, to cheer, to enliven.
  • heartenTo give heart to; to encourage, urge on, cheer, give confidence to.
  • jollifyTo make jolly.
  • light upTo make happy.
  • make someone's dayTo make someone happy, or be a source of satisfaction, for the rest of the day.
  • pleaseTo make happy or satisfy; to give pleasure to.
  • raise someone's spiritsTo make someone feel in a better mood.
  • rejoiceTo make happy, exhilarate.
  • turn the frown upside downTo become or make somebody else happy after being sad.
  • warm someone's heartMake glad.
  • warm the cockles of someone's heartTo provide someone with a deep feeling of contentment or happiness.
  • cherish obsoleteTo cheer, to gladden.
  • elevate obsoleteTo lift the spirits of (someone).
  • gay dated
  • gladden someone's heart datedSynonym of warm someone's heart.
  • laetificate rareTo make, or become, happy.
  • upcheer archaicTo cheer up.

Opposite of fain

adjectiveChiefly followed by to, or (obsolete) for or of: eager or willing, or inclined.

Meaning of fain

  1. adjective Often followed by of: glad, well-pleased.
  2. adjective Glad, contented, or satisfied to do something in the absence of a better alternative.
  3. adjective Compelled or obliged to.

Full definition of fain

fain in other languages

Questions about synonyms of fain

What is another word for fain?
Fain has 38 synonyms on Word.ws, such as disposed, keen, lief, raring, delight, perk up, beatify and enrapture.
What is the opposite of fain?
The opposite of fain is averse. Other antonyms of fain are disinclined, loath, reluctant and unwilling.
What does fain mean?
Fain means often followed by of: glad, well-pleased.

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: fain (page history and authors) and the entries of the words listed. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws grouped the synonyms and antonyms by meaning and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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Cite this page: “Synonyms of fain.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/synonyms/fain. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.