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
Patterson played Luke, a father figure to Alexis Bledel's Rory on the beloved TV show and the love interest to Lauren Graham's Lorelai Gilmore.
—
Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 2 May 2026
The lawyer pulled up more than a dozen emails showing the once-budding actress fawning over the Oscar-winning producer and seeking his counsel like a father figure.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 1 May 2026
Nigel once again steps in as a saintly father figure with access to a to-die-for sample closet.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 29 Apr. 2026
Robert Kraft is like a father figure to him.
—Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for father figure
Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 2 May 2026
The lawyer pulled up more than a dozen emails showing the once-budding actress fawning over the Oscar-winning producer and seeking his counsel like a father figure.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 1 May 2026
Nigel once again steps in as a saintly father figure with access to a to-die-for sample closet.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 29 Apr. 2026
Robert Kraft is like a father figure to him.
—Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for father figure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for father figure
Noun
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Instead of feeling alone, their daughter suddenly had her dad right beside her — with his own crazy hairstyle to match.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
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Everybody’s got a dad, everybody’s got a mom, lots of people have sons and daughters, people are in relationships.—
Derek Lawrence,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2026
Noun
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Wilson’s father was a Presbyterian minister, and Wilson read the Bible daily.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
21 May 2026
-
The backstory The property was built in 1835 as a private home for Sarah Lydia Robbins Howe, whose father Edward Hutchinson Robbins served as Massachusetts’ sixth lieutenant governor.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Father figure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/father%20figure. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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