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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His dad, inspired by Barker, recently quit his job as a psychiatric nurse practitioner to become a full-time screenwriter.—
Alex Barasch,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
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Back in 2024, proud dad William told E!—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
10 May 2026
Noun
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In November 2025, the fathers told the court about their child’s birth and a day later, Uthmeier, the AG, began pushing his way into this case.—
Ann Marie Luft,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 May 2026
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Ahmed’s family of ten—the couple has seven children, and also cares for Ahmed’s elderly father—lives in two adjoining caravans made of metal sheets.—
Annie Hylton,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Father figure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/father%20figure. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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