as in founders
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 fathers
O'Donnell kicks things off with America's founding document – the one declaring independence and bearing the names of 56 founding fathers … and one very brave woman.
—
Mo Rocca, CBS News, 22 Feb. 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
Biery compared the administration's actions to those of King George III cited by the founding fathers in the Declaration of Independence.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 11 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
And our founding fathers discussed this extensively in the Constitutional Convention and in the Federalist Papers, from Hamilton to Jefferson, the whole spectrum.
—NBC news, 18 Jan. 2026
Aside from the Bible, English philosopher John Locke deeply influenced our founding fathers.
—James O. Cunningham, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2026
Hindi cinema once reflected secular, democratic values championed by India’s founding fathers.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 7 Dec. 2025
Many of the nation's founding fathers were Protestant and held Judeo-Christian beliefs and values.
—Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 12 Nov. 2025
Mo Rocca, CBS News, 22 Feb. 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
Biery compared the administration's actions to those of King George III cited by the founding fathers in the Declaration of Independence.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 11 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
And our founding fathers discussed this extensively in the Constitutional Convention and in the Federalist Papers, from Hamilton to Jefferson, the whole spectrum.
—NBC news, 18 Jan. 2026
Aside from the Bible, English philosopher John Locke deeply influenced our founding fathers.
—James O. Cunningham, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2026
Hindi cinema once reflected secular, democratic values championed by India’s founding fathers.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 7 Dec. 2025
Many of the nation's founding fathers were Protestant and held Judeo-Christian beliefs and values.
—Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 12 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for founding fathers
Noun
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Kratzer said some of the documents allow visitors to see the founders’ handwriting up close.—
Olivianna Calmes,
FOXNews.com,
8 Mar. 2026
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Steve and Carri Roux are co-founders of the foundation, which was created it in the memory of their son, Luke, who was killed by a drunken driver just 10 days after graduating from Farmington High School in June 2022.—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Discerning content creators will be more than willing to praise or roast an item, focusing on fabric, fit and value for money.—
Alice Cary,
Vogue,
3 Mar. 2026
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For the past year, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has profiled female executives and creators around the region and delivered stories on some of the biggest issues facing women in the workplace today.—
Kelly Yamanouchi,
AJC.com,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The poll surveyed 977 caregivers of children 13 and younger, including 53% biological mothers and 33% biological fathers, with the remaining participants including stepparents, grandparents, aunts and uncles.—
Lily Hautau,
CNN Money,
5 Mar. 2026
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One of the best baseball movies ever made is really a story about fathers and sons.—
Brian Tallerico,
Vulture,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Specifically, in the new study, the authors found that compared with previous estimates a hypothetical 1 meter of sea-level rise could put up to 37% more land below sea level, impacting 77–132 million people across the globe.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
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This is the first statistically significant evidence of an acceleration of global warming, the authors said.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Founding fathers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/founding%20fathers. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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