fountainheads

noun

plural of fountainhead
1
as in sources
a point or place at which something is invented or provided historically, California has served as the fountainhead of that eclectic group of self-actualization movements known as the New Age

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in origins
the source from which something grows or develops a collection of lyrical ballads that became the fountainhead of a literary revolution

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fountainheads
  1. sources
  2. origins
  3. fountains
  4. roots
  5. cradles
  6. beginnings
Noun
  • In July, the music artist and producer spent some solo time after getting into a prison fight, sources told TMZ and NBC News.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The satellites can observe individual facilities from orbit and gather measurements that help identify greenhouse gas sources.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of sources
Noun
  • The conflict over Sabbath services in Charleston is widely regarded, although somewhat controversially, as the origins of Reform Judaism in the United States.
    — Ashley Walters, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2026
  • In particular, the event highlighted how sharing patients’ health records with federal researchers could benefit the study of the origins of chronic diseases.
    — Brittany Trang, STAT, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of origins
Noun
  • Adell hit a no-doubt 440-foot shot into the left-center fountains off Royals starter Daniel Lynch IV, effectively knocking Lynch from the game.
    — Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Lourdes water is free to access from the sanctuary’s taps and drinking fountains.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of fountains
Noun
  • The clothing brand, known for its buttery soft denim pants, started in 2002 with the aim to combine British roots with the energy of New York City’s fashion with a modern twist.
    — Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The arrival of Alma, a real estate developer from Madrid who settles in Gazulea with her two daughters, disrupts the community’s life and sparks a conflict between the town’s future and the preservation of its roots.
    — Franchesca Guim, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of roots
Noun
  • Soft, dynamic cushioning cradles your feet with every step while providing maximum support, providing transition assistance between launch and landing.
    — Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Egypt, one of the word’s cradles of civilization, is also a vibrant, modern country.
    — Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Definition of cradles
Noun
  • The work this time comes from having not only more time to make it but also a different environment altogether, spurred in part by the pandemic, which afforded Mastrangelo a moment to pause and reflect on his beginnings as a designer.
    — Adrian Madlener, Curbed, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The joint, which makes AI tools developed by and intended for filmmakers from essentially open source beginnings, saw its staff of less than 20 absorbed into the streamer and Affleck on board as an advisor.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of beginnings
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.

Browse Nearby Words

fountainhead
fountainheads
fountaining
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fountainheads.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fountainheads. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
name tags
Words Named After People Quiz Find out who’s behind "leotard," "morphine," an...
See All