as in donors
one that helps another with gifts or money
an anonymous benefactor gave the school a dozen new computers
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Recent Examples of benefactors
The decisions and forces that affect society, that dictate the livelihoods and well-being of its citizens, are at the mercy of the market, and the now frighteningly transparent ways that the market serves and benefits its dutiful governmental benefactors.
—
Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2026
Despite the clear intent of the voters, California courts have sided with the government and its special interest benefactors by creating loopholes that significantly weakened these protections.
—Jon Coupal, Oc Register, 21 Dec. 2025
Democrats saw him as a master of dark arts, beholden to his former pals in the oil industry and a warmonger who goaded the nation to wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to help his benefactors.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 20 Nov. 2025
The second-most popular reason, at 28%, was not having a relationship with their benefactors’ advisor.
—Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2025
But the arrangement could create an appearance of a conflict of interest, as Anderson’s office has steered public dollars to a business owned by a family who have been his political benefactors.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Oct. 2025
Moreover, as the show delves into the mystery behind the academy’s founding and its benefactors, Evelyn’s manipulation tactics become apparent, wedging even the closest pupils apart and establishing a hierarchy among the Tall Pines Academy staff.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 25 Sep. 2025
With no ground to generate revenue, and limited gate receipts, Enfield FC rely on benefactors putting large sums of money into the club — not uncommon at this level.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2025
The cartoon continues to relish poking its corporate benefactors.
—Nick Marx, The Conversation, 11 Sep. 2025
Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2026
Despite the clear intent of the voters, California courts have sided with the government and its special interest benefactors by creating loopholes that significantly weakened these protections.
—Jon Coupal, Oc Register, 21 Dec. 2025
Democrats saw him as a master of dark arts, beholden to his former pals in the oil industry and a warmonger who goaded the nation to wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to help his benefactors.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 20 Nov. 2025
The second-most popular reason, at 28%, was not having a relationship with their benefactors’ advisor.
—Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2025
But the arrangement could create an appearance of a conflict of interest, as Anderson’s office has steered public dollars to a business owned by a family who have been his political benefactors.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Oct. 2025
Moreover, as the show delves into the mystery behind the academy’s founding and its benefactors, Evelyn’s manipulation tactics become apparent, wedging even the closest pupils apart and establishing a hierarchy among the Tall Pines Academy staff.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 25 Sep. 2025
With no ground to generate revenue, and limited gate receipts, Enfield FC rely on benefactors putting large sums of money into the club — not uncommon at this level.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2025
The cartoon continues to relish poking its corporate benefactors.
—Nick Marx, The Conversation, 11 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for benefactors
donors
Noun
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Find this story at Iowa Capital Dispatch, which is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.—
Cami Koons,
Des Moines Register,
14 Jan. 2026
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To keep up with current demand, the center relies on volunteer donors to give 400 units each day, which in turn help support over 70 hospitals across the state.—
Matthew Glowicki,
Louisville Courier Journal,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Benefactors.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/benefactors. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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