founding fathers

noun

plural of founding father
as in founders
a person who establishes a whole new field of endeavor Theodor Herzl is often credited as the founding father of modern Zionism

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 founding fathers The Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Konrad Adenauer, the Italian Prime Minister Alcide De Gasperi, and the Belgian Socialist statesman Paul-Henri Spaak are likewise counted among the European founding fathers. — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026 Both men were shot and killed only months apart from one another, but decades later, they are still regarded as founding fathers of the genre and two of the most revered musicians in history. — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 The history of redlining, segregation and the lack of generational wealth shows how decisions made by the founding fathers created the landscape that exists for Black people in present day. — Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026 Also on campus, the Old Capitol Museum retraces the footsteps of the state’s founding fathers in Iowa’s original Capitol, while the University of Iowa Museum of Natural History explores Iowa’s 500 million years of history. — Samantha Lande, Midwest Living, 30 July 2026 But a century ago, even the founding fathers were thinking about the future of this fruit. — Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026 Documentarian Ken Burns, AI-versions of the founding fathers and video clips of past presidents also appeared in the video, which celebrated the First Amendment and the work of journalists covering the president and the White House. — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 24 July 2026 This country continues to be the greatest experiment in the history of the world because of all of you who believe in what those founding fathers wrote up 250 years ago. — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026 As the parade stopped to lay a wreath at the Granary Burying Ground where founding fathers John Hancock and Samuel Adams are buried, a man placed a small stone on the memorial, a Jewish tradition of remembrance. — Catherine Simpson Bueker, The Conversation, 1 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for founding fathers
  1. founders
  2. creators
  3. fathers
  4. authors
Noun
  • That same connectivity is now attracting a new generation of founders building companies around scientific research, patents, and advanced materials.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 12 Aug. 2026
  • For first-time founders, establishing a solid level of credibility early on can influence everything from sales conversations and hiring efforts to fundraising and strategic partnerships.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of founders
Noun
  • The coordination, travel companies say, ensures the content creators don’t disturb other patrons.
    — Doug Gollan, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • But of course, it's been frivolized by meme creators who use it to joke about not wanting to clean their rooms or eat anything besides chicken nuggets.
    — Owen Carry, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of creators
Noun
  • All of them are concerned with legacy, particularly among fathers and daughters (Shakespeare had two and lost his only son), and all of them touch a realm beyond the mundane — a place of gods and dreams, oracles and enchantment.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2026
  • In one nationally representative study published in the Journal of Marriage and Family, 81% of adult children who experienced estrangement from their mothers later became unestranged, as did 69% of those estranged from their fathers.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of fathers
Noun
  • The novel was edited by Jordan Pavlin, now Knopf’s executive vice president and publisher, whose authors include Kazuo Ishiguro, Bret Easton Ellis, and Jhumpa Lahiri.
    — Keziah Weir, Vanity Fair, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The study authors predict that future telescope advancements will allow for further detection of these clusters within and outside our galaxy.
    — Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of authors

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founding father
founding fathers
foundling
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Cite this Entry

“Founding fathers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/founding%20fathers. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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