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
Video shows Iranians topple Khomeini monument An eyewitness video is circulating showing crowds taking down a monument to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founding father of the Islamic Republic.
—
Ramon Padilla, USA Today, 2 Mar. 2026
This is not the America our founding fathers envisioned — not one where journalists face arrest for covering protests and holding power accountable.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 21 Feb. 2026
Redesign amid the Olympic rules Jean spent nearly a year working on the uniforms, only to be told last month that the image of Haiti’s founding father violated the International Olympic Committee rules prohibiting political, religious or racial propaganda at Olympic venues and on uniforms.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 6 Feb. 2026
Atop Connecticut’s state Capitol building, Captain John Mason, depicted in his 1637 attack on the Pequots in Mystic, is enshrined among the state’s founding fathers.
—Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for founding father
Ramon Padilla, USA Today, 2 Mar. 2026
This is not the America our founding fathers envisioned — not one where journalists face arrest for covering protests and holding power accountable.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 21 Feb. 2026
Redesign amid the Olympic rules Jean spent nearly a year working on the uniforms, only to be told last month that the image of Haiti’s founding father violated the International Olympic Committee rules prohibiting political, religious or racial propaganda at Olympic venues and on uniforms.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 6 Feb. 2026
Atop Connecticut’s state Capitol building, Captain John Mason, depicted in his 1637 attack on the Pequots in Mystic, is enshrined among the state’s founding fathers.
—Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for founding father
Recent Examples of Synonyms for founding father
Noun
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Kiani is the founder and executive chair of Willow Laboratories and the former chair and CEO of Masimo.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
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Once the deal closes, most Maplewood production will shift to Half Acre, according to Ari Megalis, head distiller and co-founder of Maplewood.—
Robert Channick,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
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HostArmada is an excellent web host for individual creators and small businesses looking for competitive plans that won't break the bank.—
Gabriel Zamora,
PC Magazine,
8 Mar. 2026
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Reem Raouda is a leading voice in conscious parenting and the creator of the BOUND and FOUNDATIONS journals, now offered together as her Emotional Safety Bundle.—
Reem Raouda,
CNBC,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
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An Israeli intelligence assessment, meanwhile, found Iran's new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, was wounded at the start of the war -- on the day when his father and predecessor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in an Israeli airstrike.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Mar. 2026
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In Chicago, Martinez’s father picked up minimum-wage jobs.—
Ruby Cramer,
New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Founding father.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/founding%20father. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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