Synonyms of benefactor

benefactor

noun

ˈbe-nə-ˌfak-tər 

as in donor

one that helps another with gifts or money

an anonymous benefactor gave the school a dozen new computers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• donor
• donator
• patron
• contributor
• fairy godmother
• Maecenas
• sugar daddy
• benefactress
• angel
• philanthropist
• supporter
• patroness
• subscriber
• giver
• helper
• almoner
• protector
• altruist
• savior
• bestower
• guardian angel
• almsgiver

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• beneficiary
• recipient
• donee
• giftee

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of benefactor

Schrage was a major benefactor to his alma mater, Valparaiso University, which named him to its Hall of Honor in 1985 and gave him an honorary doctorate the following year. — Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026

The park around the corner lists one of its benefactors as Todd Graves, the LSU donor and CEO of the Raising Cane’s chicken fingers empire. — Matt Baker, New York Times, 17 July 2026

The Zimmerli Art Museum, the fine arts museum of Rutgers University in New Jersey, has just received a gift of more than seventy noteworthy works of modern and contemporary art from Anne and Arthur Goldstein, longtime benefactors of the institution. — News Desk, Artforum, 16 July 2026

But an inconclusive war with Iran; a failure to defeat Hamas or Hezbollah; and a falling out with Washington, Israel’s essential benefactor, have left Netanyahu exposed. — Ian Bremmer, Time, 14 July 2026