godfather

verb

Definition of godfathernext
as in to mentor

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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 godfather Now Leroy could be dad first and coach second, while Lewis could be coach first and godfather second. — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2020 Murdoch’s political ally, godfather to one of Rupert’s young daughters with Deng – have to do with this? — Kim Masters, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 July 2022 The sons also took Murdaugh’s advice to hire attorney Cory Fleming to be executor of their mother’s estate without telling them Fleming was a longtime friend, old college roommate and godfather to at least one of Murdaugh’s sons. — Jeffrey Collins, Anchorage Daily News, 14 Oct. 2021 The new generation of progressives in the city, godfathered by Garcia, and represented in the March elections by Alma Anaya, Aaron Ortiz, and Beatriz Frausto, is a force to be reckoned with within the party. — Jacqueline Serrato, chicagotribune.com, 25 Apr. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for godfather
  1. mentor
  2. coach
  3. guide
  4. pilot
  5. escort
  6. counsel
  7. engineer
Verb
  • Brady is actively mentoring Mendoza, advising him to embody supreme competitiveness, leadership and mental and physical toughness to earn his teammates' respect.
    — Trevor Woods, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Of all his accomplishments, Connaughton took the greatest pride in mentoring generations of graduate students and teaching assistants, according to his obituary.
    — Chase Jordan July 1, Charlotte Observer, 1 July 2026
Definition of mentor
Verb
  • In one case, the Jupiter family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Google, saying the company’s chatbot, Gemini, contributed to their son’s death by fueling severe delusions and eventually coaching him through taking his own life.
    — Laurie Mermet, Sun Sentinel, 6 July 2026
  • The play-caller, Klint Kubiak, got a Super Bowl title and a head coaching job out of it.
    — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 6 July 2026
Definition of coach
Verb
  • Queiroz is confident his experience can help guide a team of talented players, many of whom also play in some of the biggest pro leagues in the world.
    — PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026
  • Whether the future is guided by a more centralized federal framework or a complex matrix of state-level consumer protections, the race to a multi-billion-dollar digital overhaul is already well underway.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 2 July 2026
Definition of guide
Verb
  • Executive sponsorship, clear metrics, a coherent strategy across all five pillars and the discipline to pilot before scaling.
    — Vinod Bijlani, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Guéhennec says that every major AI use case is initially piloted at around five to ten sites in a couple of the 43 countries that Sodexo serves.
    — John Kell, Fortune, 1 July 2026
Definition of pilot
Verb
  • Modi arrived in Jakarta on Monday afternoon and received a warm welcome, with his plane escorted into Indonesian airspace by three fighter jets.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 July 2026
  • Charles, who was then prince, escorted Meghan down the aisle amid tensions with her father, Thomas Markle, who was also in bad health at the time.
    — Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 6 July 2026
Definition of escort
Verb
  • In 2023, for example, Texas voted to allow public schools to hire religious chaplains to counsel students.
    — Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026
  • Families are still receiving outdated information and, in some cases, being counseled as though there is only one reasonable path forward.
    — Michelle Sie Whitten, STAT, 25 June 2026
Definition of counsel
Verb
  • Top-end homes are increasingly being engineered with structural systems more commonly associated with commercial buildings, including extensive steel framing that enables larger expanses of glass and fewer interior columns.
    — Mark David, Robb Report, 4 July 2026
  • While the community is defined by open space, the house itself is engineered to work with the climate, not fight it.
    — David Caraccio Updated July 4, Sacbee.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of engineer

Browse Nearby Words

goddesses
godfather
godfathered
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Cite this Entry

“Godfather.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/godfather. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on godfather

Nglish: Translation of godfather for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about godfather

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