as in founder
a person who establishes a whole new field of endeavor
Theodor Herzl is often credited as the founding father of modern Zionism
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Recent Examples of founding father
Thanks to the brilliance of our founding fathers, there are some areas where governments are strictly limited in their ability to consider trade-offs.
—
Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 3 Apr. 2026
Whitefield, one of the most influential public figures of the 18th century, and printer, thinker and founding father Franklin formed a bond rooted in shared concern for the future of the colonies.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 3 Apr. 2026
Many Cubans do not believe that Díaz-Canel holds much power in Cuba, anyway, as opposed to revolutionary founding father Raúl Castro and his family.
—ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
The epicenter of it all is the manor, home to the town's founding father, John, and his wife, Ruth.
—Kim Hudson, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for founding father
Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 3 Apr. 2026
Whitefield, one of the most influential public figures of the 18th century, and printer, thinker and founding father Franklin formed a bond rooted in shared concern for the future of the colonies.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 3 Apr. 2026
Many Cubans do not believe that Díaz-Canel holds much power in Cuba, anyway, as opposed to revolutionary founding father Raúl Castro and his family.
—ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
The epicenter of it all is the manor, home to the town's founding father, John, and his wife, Ruth.
—Kim Hudson, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for founding father
Recent Examples of Synonyms for founding father
Noun
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At first, the three founders—art critic Marsha Miro, dealer Susanne Feld Hilberry, and photographer Julia Reyes Taubman—envisioned creating an institution that would operate as an extension of the Detroit Institute of Arts that focused on alternative exhibition programming.—
Brianna J. Heath,
ARTnews.com,
26 May 2026
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For Regen, founder of Regen Projects, Opie’s ability to move across subjects has long defined her practice.—
Jane Horowitz,
Los Angeles Times,
26 May 2026
Noun
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Incorporated into the city in 1860, this former hamlet was the haunt of Molière and the literati, and later a hotbed of Art Nouveau residences by architect Hector Guimard (the creator of Paris’s iconic Métro entrances).—
Mary Winston Nicklin,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 June 2026
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The story takes place in Iran, where both Nayeri and Bell lived as children, and the creators’ affection for the setting shines through in their work.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
Noun
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The playful relationship that Monterroso Mejia and her dad display in the film reminded Ribeiro about her own bond with her Brazilian father.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
28 May 2026
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Despite all this, and despite having been jilted by her fiancé shortly after her father’s demise, the young woman remained undeterred in her ambitions.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Founding father.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/founding%20father. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.
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