as in founder
a person who establishes a whole new field of endeavor
Theodor Herzl is often credited as the founding father of modern Zionism
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Recent Examples of founding father
Thanks to the brilliance of our founding fathers, there are some areas where governments are strictly limited in their ability to consider trade-offs.
—
Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 3 Apr. 2026
Whitefield, one of the most influential public figures of the 18th century, and printer, thinker and founding father Franklin formed a bond rooted in shared concern for the future of the colonies.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 3 Apr. 2026
Many Cubans do not believe that Díaz-Canel holds much power in Cuba, anyway, as opposed to revolutionary founding father Raúl Castro and his family.
—ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
The epicenter of it all is the manor, home to the town's founding father, John, and his wife, Ruth.
—Kim Hudson, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for founding father
Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 3 Apr. 2026
Whitefield, one of the most influential public figures of the 18th century, and printer, thinker and founding father Franklin formed a bond rooted in shared concern for the future of the colonies.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 3 Apr. 2026
Many Cubans do not believe that Díaz-Canel holds much power in Cuba, anyway, as opposed to revolutionary founding father Raúl Castro and his family.
—ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
The epicenter of it all is the manor, home to the town's founding father, John, and his wife, Ruth.
—Kim Hudson, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for founding father
Recent Examples of Synonyms for founding father
Noun
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Dudley notably received a $1 million contribution from Phil Knight, the billionaire co-founder of Nike, which is based in Oregon.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 May 2026
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In addition to designers and entrepreneurs, many artists were around of the like of Malcolm McLaren, the founder of the Sex Pistols.—
Maria Cristina Pavarini,
Footwear News,
19 May 2026
Noun
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That lesson has been absorbed — instinctively, if not always consciously — by a generation of online creators now moving into feature filmmaking with their audiences already in tow.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2026
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Jury members are to be announced; the roster will draw from filmmakers, actors, and creators working across Japan and internationally.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
17 May 2026
Noun
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Wilson’s father was a Presbyterian minister, and Wilson read the Bible daily.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
21 May 2026
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The backstory The property was built in 1835 as a private home for Sarah Lydia Robbins Howe, whose father Edward Hutchinson Robbins served as Massachusetts’ sixth lieutenant governor.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Founding father.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/founding%20father. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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