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
Our founding fathers experienced the heavy hand of a tyrannical government.
—
Arkansas Online, 10 Mar. 2026
Legendary Chicago Bears owner George Halas was one of the founding fathers of the NFL.
—Ryan Baker, CBS News, 7 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
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
Arkansas Online, 10 Mar. 2026
Legendary Chicago Bears owner George Halas was one of the founding fathers of the NFL.
—Ryan Baker, CBS News, 7 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for founding fathers
Noun
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Within days, China’s surprise intervention in the deal quickly shattered that hope, as Beijing stepped up efforts to discourage Chinese AI founders from moving their businesses offshore.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
30 Mar. 2026
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Tony-award-winning actor John Kani said he was stunned when the theatre's founders Barney Simon and Mannie Manim first told him their vision.—
Kate Bartlett,
NPR,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
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OnlyFans sells subscriptions to individual creators' content, often racy videos and photos that are barred on platforms like Instagram.—
Aimee Picchi,
CBS News,
23 Mar. 2026
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Radvinsky bought a majority stake in the platform in 2018 and turned it into a cultural phenomenon that reshaped the pornography industry by allowing creators to charge directly for their content.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Many of them had a cocky attitude, even after their fathers were killed.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
26 Mar. 2026
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Studies show that women’s earnings fall after having children while men see their wages increase after becoming fathers.—
Jacqueline Munis,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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This gap has real consequences, the authors argue.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
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Now, agents field interest from sometimes dozens of potential buyers, and authors can pick the deal most appealing to them.—
Leah Asmelash,
CNN Money,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Founding fathers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/founding%20fathers. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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