1
as in dad
a male human parent
the special relationship that exists between fathers and sons
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in founder
a person who establishes a whole new field of endeavor
Sir Isaac Newton is regarded by many as the father of modern science
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in grandfather
a person who is several generations earlier in an individual's line of descent
our fathers founded this nation on the fundamental belief that no person is entitled to rule by divine right
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in Lord
capitalized
the being worshipped as the creator and ruler of the universe
let us ask humbly for the blessings of our Father in heaven
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of father
Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
These transitions have wrought a new relationship to impermanence, and to the meaning of both family and home, installing grief as a permanent fixture in my life and making even my parents’ home feel slightly foreign now that my father no longer lives there.
—Naomi Jackson, Curbed, 11 Feb. 2026
Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
Her first appearance on the Norman Lear classic was as Marilyn Sanders, a woman who shows up, young child in tow, on the Bunker family’s doorstop claiming that the little boy was fathered by Gloria’s husband Mike Stivic (Rob Reiner).
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for father
Noun
At the Rancho Bernardo Library concert Albrent will be playing the violin her father made for her.
—Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
These transitions have wrought a new relationship to impermanence, and to the meaning of both family and home, installing grief as a permanent fixture in my life and making even my parents’ home feel slightly foreign now that my father no longer lives there.
—Naomi Jackson, Curbed, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
Clapton fathered his first child, Ruth, with Yvonne Kelly in 1985.
—Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
Her first appearance on the Norman Lear classic was as Marilyn Sanders, a woman who shows up, young child in tow, on the Bunker family’s doorstop claiming that the little boy was fathered by Gloria’s husband Mike Stivic (Rob Reiner).
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for father
Recent Examples of Synonyms for father
Noun
-
And Dean’s son, who is also named Kenneth, like his dad and his grandfather, has been a cop for three years.—
Rebecca White,
New York Daily News,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Over 500 institutions still give you a leg up if your mom or dad went there.—
Jonathan Zimmerman,
Twin Cities,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Sonny Skyhawk, founder and president of American Indians in Film, one of the organizations that had joined forces with Jackson, said the campaign against the networks should have been stronger.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Nicolle Fefferman, co-founder of Parents Supporting Teachers — an online community of roughly 30,000 people — said families have been closely tracking the district’s budget discussions for the past two years but still lack clarity.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The company, Christian Brothers Hockey Sticks, was founded by his grandfather and great-uncle, 1960 Olympic hockey stars Bill and Roger Christian.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Kocher was a grandfather and a sucker for extra hours on the bike trails, Beckley said.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Spike had sired three elephant calves at other zoos, but none survived.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Conspiracists have long speculated about if and how Hitler might live on: using a pseudonym in Argentina, huddling in a bunker under the Antarctic ice, or secretly siring offspring.—
Rosemary Counter,
Vanity Fair,
19 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
At least Tommy gets a love interest this time around, thanks to a winsome sheriff’s daughter (daddy issues in a franchise all about mommy issues?—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Harper and Yasmin have said goodbye to their spectacularly misspent youths, but their daddy issues—another of the show’s pet themes—are decidedly unresolved.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The creator economy celebrates audiences as fandoms who co-create and build communities.—
Mina Haque,
Fortune,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The program includes interviews from the show's creators, participants and judges, according to Netflix.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA Today,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
But now, a series of tea parties with an ape named Kanzi suggests some of our closest ancestors may have this ability too.—
Suzanne Nuyen,
NPR,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The findings also suggest that herbivory evolved independently in several different groups of early land vertebrates, not just in the ancestors of modern reptiles.—
Lily Hautau,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
With the Epstein story approaching the 10-year mark as a global preoccupation, this nth phase of the intrigue, largely prompted by fallout from the Department of Justice’s July proclamation that there were no further criminal charges in the works, has spawned a potent cottage industry.—
Dan Adler,
Vanity Fair,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The five nights of the trio’s Vanguard booking spawned two live recordings considered among the greatest jazz albums of all time.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Father.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/father. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
