Thesaurus results for FATHER FIGURE

father figure

noun

Definition of father figure

as in dad

an older man who acts in a paternal role to younger people The coach was a stern, wise father figure to his players.

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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 father figure The association was seen regardless of whether teens were reporting on a mother figure or father figure, and was seen across ages, gender, race and ethnicity. — Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 20 June 2026 The momager, 70, marked the holiday on Sunday, June 21, by sharing a sweet photo collage featuring all the father figures in her life. — Clare Fisher, PEOPLE, 22 June 2026 The jury heard how, as the two started getting to know one another, Weinstein, 34 years Mann’s senior, took particular interest in her background and lack of a father figure growing up. — Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 25 June 2026 There’s a dry, droll seam of generation-gap humor in George’s continued, failed attempts to insert himself as a father figure into the life of someone who never asked for one, and Zeke’s blankly bemused resistance to his efforts. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 19 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for father figure

Recent Examples of Synonyms for father figure

Noun

Her family is separated when her dad and brother are sold to another plantation.

— Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Alek, who’s been to Arrowhead multiple times to watch Kelce in action, remembered a funny interaction between Kelce and his dad during practice.

— Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026

Definition of dad

Noun

The news of the arrest caught the attention of the family of Amy McHale, a woman who was once married to Horsch’s father and disappeared nearly 10 years ago.

— Danny Freeman, CNN Money, 1 July 2026
Her oldest sister, Sonia Gonzalez, said Gonzalez reminds her a lot of their father, who reinvented himself many times over the years.

— Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026

Definition of father

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fathered (on)

father figure

father figures

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“Father figure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/father%20figure. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of father figure

noun

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