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
Whatever your dad, grandfather, father-in-law or father figure prefers, there’s a gift for him on this list of fun — and functional — presents.
—
Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 9 June 2026
On Friday, news broke of the passing of actor Anthony Head at 72, best known for his portrayal of Watcher/father figure Rupert Giles on the supernatural drama Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
—ArsTechnica, 7 June 2026
On Buffy, Head starred as Rupert Giles, the Watcher, mentor and father figure to Gellar’s titular hero, Buffy Summers.
—Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 5 June 2026
In Spokane, Washington, Sonora Smart Dodd organized the first Father’s Day in the United States, one that recognized her Civil War veteran dad who raised her, as well as other father figures.
—USA Today, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for father figure
Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 9 June 2026
On Friday, news broke of the passing of actor Anthony Head at 72, best known for his portrayal of Watcher/father figure Rupert Giles on the supernatural drama Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
—ArsTechnica, 7 June 2026
On Buffy, Head starred as Rupert Giles, the Watcher, mentor and father figure to Gellar’s titular hero, Buffy Summers.
—Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 5 June 2026
In Spokane, Washington, Sonora Smart Dodd organized the first Father’s Day in the United States, one that recognized her Civil War veteran dad who raised her, as well as other father figures.
—USA Today, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for father figure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for father figure
Noun
-
With nothing holding her down but a dead-end job and an aging dad, a small-town Texan girl is swiftly bedazzled by a smooth criminal drifter, and hops into his car to pursue a life less ordinary.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
7 June 2026
-
In fact, the new graduate recently made his acting debut alongside his dad Oliver in the Netflix rom-com A Merry Little Ex-Mas.—
Meg Walters,
InStyle,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
His father then held the seat from 2003 until 2011.—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
11 June 2026
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Similarly compelling is ‘Home Going,’ in which Clemmons traces her father’s family’s migration to Los Angeles in the 1970s, motivated by the promise of economic opportunities that had previously seemed out of reach for Black people.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Father figure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/father%20figure. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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