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
Led by patriarch Eli Gemstone, the Gemstones build their ministry empire and squander much of the church’s money in the process.
—
Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 18 Jan. 2026
As detailed in a recent Vulture profile, attention to detail doesn’t appear to be the family patriarch’s strong suit.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 15 Jan. 2026
But at least Mel Brooks, patriarch Carl Reiner's close friend and collaborator across seven decades, was with him until the very end.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Jan. 2026
But Ruyombo isn’t the only star, because in addition to three blackbacks (mature males that haven’t yet developed their silver hair) in the vicinity, there’s a mother with a two-month-old boy just behind the patriarch.
—Christina Liao, Vogue, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for patriarch
Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 18 Jan. 2026
As detailed in a recent Vulture profile, attention to detail doesn’t appear to be the family patriarch’s strong suit.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 15 Jan. 2026
But at least Mel Brooks, patriarch Carl Reiner's close friend and collaborator across seven decades, was with him until the very end.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Jan. 2026
But Ruyombo isn’t the only star, because in addition to three blackbacks (mature males that haven’t yet developed their silver hair) in the vicinity, there’s a mother with a two-month-old boy just behind the patriarch.
—Christina Liao, Vogue, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for patriarch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patriarch
Noun
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The company, Christian Brothers Hockey Sticks, was founded by his grandfather and great-uncle, 1960 Olympic hockey stars Bill and Roger Christian.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
5 Feb. 2026
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Kocher was a grandfather and a sucker for extra hours on the bike trails, Beckley said.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In the aftermath, the kid exhibits bad behavior and asks hard questions, with dad and mom (Gemma Chan) at a loss to help when she's asked to testify in a jury trial.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
1 Feb. 2026
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His dad was angry at first – how could Shane have been so stupid to be taken in by something that is so clearly stacked against winning?—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Holly didn't have access to the safe except for brief times when it was opened by his father, according to the lawyer.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Feb. 2026
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These abuses include the murder of inmates’ infants, a fact that galvanizes the pregnant Alouette (the father of her child, Étienne, is a quarryman) into joining a plan for escape through the Paris sewers.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Patriarch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patriarch. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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