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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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 father figure As a child, Vance watched his mom wrestle with substance use disorder and had a revolving door of father figures. Haley Bemiller, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025 But Santi, whose now-estranged dad used to push him too hard on the golf course, doesn’t exactly relish the prospect of having a new father figure to satisfy. Judy Berman, Time, 27 June 2025 Bishops must live in poverty and simplicity, generously opening their homes to all and acting as a father figure and brother to his priests, Leo said. Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2025 The royals celebrated their father figures on Sunday in a series of social media posts. Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for father figure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for father figure
Noun
  • In June 2022, Farmer spoke about parenting on an episode of First Class Fatherhood, a podcast focused on dads and fatherhood.
    Kait Hanson, People.com, 24 July 2025
  • Frank was a working dad who was struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts at the time.
    Yola Robert, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
Noun
  • The fathers of Goncalves and Kernodle expressed anger, criticizing prosecutors for not adequately consulting the families before agreeing to the deal.
    Dakin Andone, CNN Money, 20 July 2025
  • The Navy veteran and married father of three had only just become a parole agent nine months ago, after a decade working as a corrections officer at a state hospital in Vacaville.
    Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 20 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Father figure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/father%20figure. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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