as in dad
an older man who acts in a paternal role to younger people
The coach was a stern, wise father figure to his players.
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Recent Examples of father figure
Washington asked Lindo what drew him to the script, as his character is weighed down by the cruel world, but also emerges as somewhat of a father figure to the group in the film.
—
Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 18 Dec. 2025
Those who looked up to him like a father figure.
—Andrea Nakano, CBS News, 10 Dec. 2025
While Mortimer chooses control over affection, Percy (Hyun Wanner), the Beaufort chauffeur who has been a father figure of sorts to James and Lydia, quietly mourns Cordelia.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 28 Nov. 2025
Andres was taken in by his mother’s boyfriend, but the boyfriend was not a father figure for Andres or his siblings — and instead groomed them for the drug trade.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 20 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for father figure
Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 18 Dec. 2025
Those who looked up to him like a father figure.
—Andrea Nakano, CBS News, 10 Dec. 2025
While Mortimer chooses control over affection, Percy (Hyun Wanner), the Beaufort chauffeur who has been a father figure of sorts to James and Lydia, quietly mourns Cordelia.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 28 Nov. 2025
Andres was taken in by his mother’s boyfriend, but the boyfriend was not a father figure for Andres or his siblings — and instead groomed them for the drug trade.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 20 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for father figure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for father figure
Noun
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Even better, however, were some smaller numbers that went his way Saturday when the Mustangs hosted Oswego East, where his dad Terrell is a sophomore coach and varsity assistant.—
Rick Armstrong,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Jan. 2026
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Interestingly the pool scene, where Kevin loses his dad’s massive swim trunks while bombing in the pool, was filmed at the Four Seasons Chicago – the Plaza Hotel doesn’t have an indoor pool.—
Adam Turner,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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There’s an absent father and a clueless, neglectful mother but the five Gilbert children — Lydia, Hugo, Annabel, Jeremy and Rosalind — are essentially raising themselves in an English country house of secret passages and worrying infestations.—
Chris Hewitt,
Boston Herald,
22 Jan. 2026
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Then in the afternoon, 5-year-old Liam Ramos was taken with his father while in their driveway after just arriving home from his preschool classroom.—
Reg Chapman,
CBS News,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Father figure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/father%20figure. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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