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
This year’s event invites fathers and father figures to treat their daughters to a dazzling night inspired by the jazz age.
—
Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Aug. 2025
Not only was he drawn to the opportunity to play a positive father figure, but being the romantic lead was its own novelty.
—Leigh Nordstrom, Footwear News, 7 Aug. 2025
Not the revenge thing, but the part about sons emulating their fathers (or father figures).
—Genevieve Koski, Vulture, 4 Aug. 2025
In the first scene, the young man, whose mordantly resonant name is George Washington Black, or Wash (Ernest Kingsley Junior), is showing a father figure named Medwin, played by Brown, one of his latest inventions, a small prototype for a blimp.
—Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 2 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for father figure
Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Aug. 2025
Not only was he drawn to the opportunity to play a positive father figure, but being the romantic lead was its own novelty.
—Leigh Nordstrom, Footwear News, 7 Aug. 2025
Not the revenge thing, but the part about sons emulating their fathers (or father figures).
—Genevieve Koski, Vulture, 4 Aug. 2025
In the first scene, the young man, whose mordantly resonant name is George Washington Black, or Wash (Ernest Kingsley Junior), is showing a father figure named Medwin, played by Brown, one of his latest inventions, a small prototype for a blimp.
—Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 2 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for father figure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for father figure
Noun
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An affable dad who avoids divisive topics like politics and religion in favor of gentler, autobiographical material that tends to cast him as a well-meaning fool, the Tennessee native is also the rare comic capable of appealing to, or at least not actively alienating, a broad swathe of viewers.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
15 Sep. 2025
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Jac, on the other hand, took his dad's lead into the world of sports broadcasting.—
Nasha Smith,
PEOPLE,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Celebrating the assassination of a 31 year old father of two young kids is disturbing; that teachers would be among those who do so is completely unacceptable.—
Amy DeLaura,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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His father, a hard-working Russian immigrant and patriotic US bomber pilot, taught him to respect authority.—
Martine Paris,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Father figure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/father%20figure. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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