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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Recent Examples of father figure
As the posh Rupert Giles, Anthony Stewart Head was like a surrogate father figure to Buffy, Xander, and Willow.
—
Randall Colburn, EW.com, 10 Mar. 2025
She’s lost this father figure in Irving and then she’s lost this brother figure because Dylan seems to have turned his back on her, at least in that episode.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
His total disinterest in Chloe’s extracurriculars reminds me of that time on 30 Rock when Jenna taught Jack to accept his role in as the father figure in his younger girlfriend’s Pokemon, to free himself from the pressure to, say, watch her friends DJ at a warehouse party in Brooklyn.
—Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2025
These issues often develop when a father figure was absent, inconsistent, overly critical or harsh during a child’s most precious, formative years.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for father figure
Randall Colburn, EW.com, 10 Mar. 2025
She’s lost this father figure in Irving and then she’s lost this brother figure because Dylan seems to have turned his back on her, at least in that episode.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
His total disinterest in Chloe’s extracurriculars reminds me of that time on 30 Rock when Jenna taught Jack to accept his role in as the father figure in his younger girlfriend’s Pokemon, to free himself from the pressure to, say, watch her friends DJ at a warehouse party in Brooklyn.
—Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2025
These issues often develop when a father figure was absent, inconsistent, overly critical or harsh during a child’s most precious, formative years.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for father figure
Cite this Entry
“Father figure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/father%20figure. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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