father figure

Definition of father figurenext
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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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 figure Part of his charm here included playing the stalwart father figure to two terrified kids — someone a child could trust to stick around and keep watch all night when the dinosaurs came chomping. Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 14 July 2026 Neill played dashing heroes, sinister villains (see The Piano), authority figures, famous figures, and father figures. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 13 July 2026 Upon Hobert’s death, his successor, Ormund, took over as the boy’s father figure. Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 13 July 2026 Kai’s father figure, Uncle Six (Byron Mann), is one of the warlords bent on domination, setting up a Star Wars-esque clash between father and son. David Faris, TheWeek, 10 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for father figure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for father figure
Noun
  • All four traveled with mom and dad to the 2018 Australian Open, where Federer participated in the Kids Tennis Day event.
    Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 8 Aug. 2026
  • His dad — a longtime coach and the author of a hitting manual — is a Cubs season ticket holder who has been taking him to games for almost as long.
    Chris Placek, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Armstrong's family bought the home in 1944 after his father had moved them about a dozen times with his job as a government auditor.
    ABC News, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The first murder is a girl slicing into her slumbering mother’s neck with a hacksaw; then her brother pounds his father’s face in with a baseball bat.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 4 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Father figure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/father%20figure. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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