1
as in dads
a male human parent
the special relationship that exists between fathers and sons
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in founders
a person who establishes a whole new field of endeavor
Sir Isaac Newton is regarded by many as the father of modern science
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in grandfathers
a person who is several generations earlier in an individual's line of descent
our fathers founded this nation on the fundamental belief that no person is entitled to rule by divine right
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in sires
to become the father of
Paul Revere somehow found room in his small house for the large family he had fathered
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 fathers
News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
More responders as well as the climbers’ fathers, who’d driven up from the North Bay, were waiting in the trailhead parking lot.
—Gregory Thomas, San Francisco Chronicle, 14 Mar. 2026
The Dads centers on a group of fathers navigating extraordinary circumstances.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 13 Mar. 2026
For Maduro, that visibility feels like the realization of his fathers life-long vision.
—Tyler Carmona, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2026
Dressed in costumes and armed with portable speakers, these fathers have taken over the carpool lane to ensure students, parents, and teachers start their day with a smile.
—La'tasha Givens, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
Then the curse of the fathers found me — slow at first, like a rumor rolling over the veld, then sudden, like a snare snapping shut on bone.
—Jan Steyn, The Dial, 10 Mar. 2026
As fathers to daughters who are now independent adults, both Lawrence and Tarses wanted to further explore that dynamic.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2026
For over two decades, the American people have watched as forever wars have stolen the lives of their brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, and their mothers and fathers.
—Derek Tran, Oc Register, 6 Mar. 2026
Noun
Dressed in white ballgowns and escorted by their mothers and either their fathers or uncles, each Ticktocker was given a moment on stage to be honored with a brief bio and a slideshow of special moments in their lives.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
More responders as well as the climbers’ fathers, who’d driven up from the North Bay, were waiting in the trailhead parking lot.
—Gregory Thomas, San Francisco Chronicle, 14 Mar. 2026
The Dads centers on a group of fathers navigating extraordinary circumstances.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 13 Mar. 2026
For Maduro, that visibility feels like the realization of his fathers life-long vision.
—Tyler Carmona, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2026
Dressed in costumes and armed with portable speakers, these fathers have taken over the carpool lane to ensure students, parents, and teachers start their day with a smile.
—La'tasha Givens, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
Then the curse of the fathers found me — slow at first, like a rumor rolling over the veld, then sudden, like a snare snapping shut on bone.
—Jan Steyn, The Dial, 10 Mar. 2026
As fathers to daughters who are now independent adults, both Lawrence and Tarses wanted to further explore that dynamic.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2026
For over two decades, the American people have watched as forever wars have stolen the lives of their brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, and their mothers and fathers.
—Derek Tran, Oc Register, 6 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fathers
Noun
-
There's other dads of color out there.—
David Oliver,
USA Today,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Everyone now has to gasp politely and exclaim that this is a big opportunity for the dads indeed, while Mikayla stands there awkwardly, still holding her big pink box full of live butterflies.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In recent months, several female founders synonymous with the 2010s wave of millennial entrepreneurship have begun their second acts.—
Amy Francombe,
Vogue,
16 Mar. 2026
-
The group’s co-founders, Deanne Teasley and Kimberly Jackson, connected online while searching for other people of color to ski with in the Pacific Northwest back at home.—
James Edward Mills,
Outside,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Robert Pelot, the owner of Pelot’s Rexall Pharmacy, said it’s been in his family since one of his great-grandfathers moved to the Bradenton area from Indiana in the late 1800s.—
Amaia Gavica,
Miami Herald,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Is this the noble cause that our grandfathers would have shed their blood for 85 years ago?—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The options are vast, ranging from Rita Ora vamping on one station and drunk gay daddies being spotlighted on another.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
30 Dec. 2025
-
Some people's mommies and daddies really, really struggle with money, and that is not something to ever make fun of somebody for.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Agricultural businesses need storytellers, social media managers and content creators to share engaging and transparent narratives about the innovative efforts taking place on their farms.—
Metro Creative Services,
Boston Herald,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Both creators were previously members of the influencer collective Hype House.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Our ancient ancestors loved their birch tar.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Local historians in Wyandotte County have long documented the arduous journeys that their ancestors, and those of many Kansas City, Kansas residents, made to find freedom from slavery.—
Sofi Zeman,
Kansas City Star,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
It was never supposed to be a character study about how trauma begets trauma.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Magalon and Santiago link lower budgets to more artistic freedom, which begets better films.—
Barry Levitt,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But reading the profile of Mohamad Eisa and Yolka Gessen left me with a kind of dread, the kind that comes when a spin-off from a hit show spawns a spin-off of its own, promising/threatening hundreds of new hours of content to keep up with.—
Jessa Crispin,
Air Mail,
24 Jan. 2026
-
At the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Nadella sat for a conversation with the Forum’s interim co-chair, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, explaining that if AI growth spawns solely from investment, then that could be signs of a bubble.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fathers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fathers. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
