patriarch

Definition of patriarchnext
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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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of patriarch Dickens — a devoted patriarch — took custody of all his children save for his eldest son. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026 To cut straight to the point, this is a film in which China symbolically emerges from the rubble of the Iraq War as a pacifistic patriarch and guardian of all the world’s children. — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026 Kazan said there wasn’t enough space to give the Irish American family — composed of patriarch and matriarch Samuel and Liza, plus their nine children, the screen time their story merited. — Senior Television, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026 Dolan family patriarch Charles founded Cablevision, the cable TV company, which acquired 50% of the Knicks, Rangers and related businesses in 1994 and the rest of the MSG properties three years later. — Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 30 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for patriarch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patriarch
Noun
  • There’s non-kaiju human death, too, including a flashback to the immediate aftermath of the Hiroshima bombing in which a bloodied grandfather discovers the charred remains of his daughter and grandson.
    — James Grebey, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2026
  • His father and grandfather were involved in the case of Pete Pianezzi, a friend who was wrongfully convicted of first-degree murder in the shooting and killing of a gambler and busboy in Los Angeles in 1937.
    — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Escapism of yore My anxiety around reading has snowballed since becoming a dad in 2024.
    — Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2026
  • As a kid, Pulido played music with his high school mariachi and ended up in his dad’s band Los Clásicos.
    — Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Known for his confidence and aggressive playing style, Sears says his father has taught him the importance of staying humble and grounded despite his success.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 11 Nov. 2026
  • Rahul, with the priest by his side, empties his father’s ashes into the river.
    — Sonia Gandhi, Vanity Fair, 10 Nov. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Patriarch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patriarch. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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