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
Growing up in State College, Pennsylvania, Yang spent countless hours playing catch and puttering in the garden with his grandfather, a chemical engineer and the family patriarch.
—
Caleb Hellerman, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2026
The family patriarch opened a pool hall and added a tiny taquería for his wife, but died in his 50s in 2013.
—Louisa Kung Liu Chu, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
Allende’s portrait of a tumultuous Chile through five decades follows the Trueba family with Alfonso Herrera as the patriarch Esteban Trueba.
—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 26 Apr. 2026
The movie also features Colman Domingo as Jackson patriarch Joseph Jackson and Nia Long as the family’s mom, Katherine Jackson, in addition to Jaafar as Michael.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for patriarch
Caleb Hellerman, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2026
The family patriarch opened a pool hall and added a tiny taquería for his wife, but died in his 50s in 2013.
—Louisa Kung Liu Chu, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
Allende’s portrait of a tumultuous Chile through five decades follows the Trueba family with Alfonso Herrera as the patriarch Esteban Trueba.
—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 26 Apr. 2026
The movie also features Colman Domingo as Jackson patriarch Joseph Jackson and Nia Long as the family’s mom, Katherine Jackson, in addition to Jaafar as Michael.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for patriarch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patriarch
Noun
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Eric, the grandfather, also was on the call and offered to take his grandson as well — at least until the father regained custody or the Arizona relatives were approved to take him.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
7 May 2026
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The Kohler family has come a long way since 1873, when his great-grandfather John Michael Kohler cofounded the firm in the farming heartland of Sheboygan, Wisc.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
7 May 2026
Noun
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The foam provided more structure than alternative materials, while the stack height helped my dad keep his neck in alignment despite spending hours seated in the car.—
Mary Beth Skylis,
Travel + Leisure,
3 May 2026
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Din Djarin The bounty-hunting gunslinging space dad travels the galaxy in a post-Empire world with a tragic backstory and son Grogu in tow.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
3 May 2026
Noun
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The toughest part was telling his father, Lewis, his biggest champion.—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
7 May 2026
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Her mother, Megan Briones, and younger brother, Teo Briones, are actors, as is her father, Jon Jon Briones.—
Staff Author,
PEOPLE,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Patriarch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patriarch. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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