1
as in kids
a male person who has not yet reached adulthood
a giggling little boy ran by
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in boyfriends
a male romantic companion
their teenaged daughter has a new boy, and she's just crazy about him
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of boys
Only little boys are called big boys.
—
Arkansas Online, 15 Jan. 2026
Parents are using names for their daughters that are traditionally used for boys.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
In 2023, a former Foxboro High School student was ordered to perform 40 hours of community service and attend a diversity awareness program for allegedly assaulting a transgender North Attleboro High School student after a boys basketball game in 2022.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 14 Jan. 2026
Lake Nona, the Class 7A boys soccer state championship team last season, lost area player of the year Murillo Mello, a Brazilian goalkeeper, and several other standouts to the MLS Next network.
—Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Jan. 2026
And a growing share of those patients are now boys, according to a longitudinal study in Canada.
—Michal Ruprecht, NPR, 14 Jan. 2026
Priyatharsini Natarajan, 35, of Hillsborough, faces two first-degree murder charges in the death of her two boys, 5 and 7.
—Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 14 Jan. 2026
JSerra’s boys soccer team started play last week in the Trinity League.
—Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 7 Jan. 2026
Here’s a look at the most popular baby names for boys and girls in San Diego County in 2025.
—Jayne Yutig, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boys
Noun
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Admission is $5; free for kids 15 and younger (cash only); free for active-duty military with ID.—
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CeraVe Acne Foaming Cleanser Older kids and tweens often start breaking out with acne around this age, so be aware that exfoliators, acids, or retinol can potentially cause skin irritation.—
Noun
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His wife, Sylvia, has boyfriends of her own but can’t abide Hank’s obvious passion for Davis.—
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There's a lot of change and also new friends, new friendship grounds and the idea of boyfriends.—
Noun
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Now 58 years old, Smart was in her early twenties when she was convicted for being an accomplice to the murder of her husband Gregory Smart, which was carried out by several teenagers including a 15 year-old boy Smart was having an affair with.—
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The military presence in Hawkins is completely gone one year later — without any repercussions for the teenagers who killed several of its members.—
Noun
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Guardiola’s lads look back to their best in the early months of this season after the extended wobble in the previous one that wrecked their hopes of a fifth straight domestic title.—
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At their gigs in London’s massive Wembley Stadium and in Manchester’s Heaton Park, lads cried and moshed and showered each other in beer and cider and more questionable liquids.—
Noun
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The committee also approved a separate bond proposal to pay for housing for homeless youths, although lawmakers are looking to combine the bond measures.—
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The ensuing crackdown led to the arrests of 25 youths between the ages of 11 and 18 and the seizure of 36 e-rideables.—
Cite this Entry
“Boys.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boys. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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