as in grandfather
a man who is the head of a family
Investors worried that the aging patriarch was soon to be replaced atop the family business by his less reliable oldest son.
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Recent Examples of patriarch
The series follows the Clyburns, a wealthy New York City family who relocates to Montana’s Madison River Valley following the deaths of family patriarch Preston (Russell) and his brother Paul (Fox), who were killed in a plane crash.
—
Cat Cardenas, Variety, 10 June 2026
The patriarch shares six adult children with his first wife, My Skarsgård.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026
At his 80th birthday party, the powerful patriarch Adolfo Novak gathers family and friends.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 8 June 2026
This ideal of masculinity is not a patriarch but a perpetual adolescent, endlessly irresponsible and endlessly indulged.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 5 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for patriarch
Cat Cardenas, Variety, 10 June 2026
The patriarch shares six adult children with his first wife, My Skarsgård.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026
At his 80th birthday party, the powerful patriarch Adolfo Novak gathers family and friends.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 8 June 2026
This ideal of masculinity is not a patriarch but a perpetual adolescent, endlessly irresponsible and endlessly indulged.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 5 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for patriarch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patriarch
Noun
-
Both my grandfathers had been coal miners.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 June 2026
-
Her grandfather was able to escape and later fought against the Nazis in the Russian army.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
Jack is already following in his dad's footsteps with a passion for sports.—
Meg Walters,
InStyle,
14 June 2026
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Plano resident Parker Nay got tickets with his dad and took part in the Oranje Fanwalk, a tradition for Netherlands supporters.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 June 2026
Noun
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In the years since, Harry, 41, has made several short trips back to the UK, most notably attending the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022 and his father King Charles III’s coronation in 2023.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
18 June 2026
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My brother in-law was an incredible husband and an amazing father to their boys.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Patriarch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patriarch. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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