as in patriarch
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Recent Examples of paterfamilias
Schumer’s actions as paterfamilias of Senate Democrats are often informed by his New York sensibilities.
—
Grace Segers, The New Republic, 13 Sep. 2022
There’s also a concern about acting as if your son were a source of shame, a secret to be hidden from the paterfamilias.
—Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2022
This is Putin’s vision of the Russian world, a strong and blessed house with Russia as the paterfamilias, tough and occasionally harsh, but ultimately benevolent, sharing the fruits of Russian civilization with those who belong to its world.
—Tom McTague, The Atlantic, 18 June 2022
Andy Garcia plays the paterfamilias in this 2022 remake of the 1991 remake of the 1950 comedy.
—Tribune News Service, cleveland, 12 June 2022
See All Example Sentences for paterfamilias
Grace Segers, The New Republic, 13 Sep. 2022
There’s also a concern about acting as if your son were a source of shame, a secret to be hidden from the paterfamilias.
—Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2022
This is Putin’s vision of the Russian world, a strong and blessed house with Russia as the paterfamilias, tough and occasionally harsh, but ultimately benevolent, sharing the fruits of Russian civilization with those who belong to its world.
—Tom McTague, The Atlantic, 18 June 2022
Andy Garcia plays the paterfamilias in this 2022 remake of the 1991 remake of the 1950 comedy.
—Tribune News Service, cleveland, 12 June 2022
See All Example Sentences for paterfamilias
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paterfamilias
patriarch
Noun
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Additional cast includes James Purefoy as Laban, the patriarch of a complicated household and the older brother of Rebekah, Will Stevens as Birham, who, much like his father Laban, prefers fun over tending the flock and Taylor Napier as Acar, the older and more dominant of Laban’s two sons.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
26 Jan. 2026
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Doan Hoang Anh rounds out the principal cast as the family patriarch Zung, a father attempting to bridge the distance created by years spent establishing their life abroad.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paterfamilias.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paterfamilias. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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