Synonyms for patriarch
Most common
Synonyms by meaning
Noun
1. Dad — the male progenitor of a genetic or tribal line, or of a clan or extended family
father, old man, dad, forefather, daddy informal, ancestor, pap, forbear, papa, pater formal, sire, pappy
2. Paterfamilias — the male head of a household or nuclear family
paterfamilias, highfather rare
Other
Definitions
- n. 1
The male progenitor of a genetic or tribal line, or of a clan or extended family.
- n. 2
The male head of a household or nuclear family.
Related words
- Word family
- patriarchal patriarchdom patriarchism
- Is a kind of
- bishop clergyman clergyperson cleric person
Forms
- Plural
- patriarchs → fathers, dads, forefathers, daddies…
Example sentences
- dad Wha- Dad! What is this?! You said nobody was here.
- ancestor Tom's ancestor was a member of a blacksmiths' guild.
- forefather Abraham was correct and the forefather of many.
- forbear I cannot forbear expressing my doubts.
- grandfather Grandfather talked to me with a pipe in his mouth.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| patriarch | rising | |
| dad | rising | |
| ancestor | rising | |
| forefather | rising | |
| forbear | steady | |
| grandfather | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- dad1, pap1
- 4 letters
- papa2, sire2
- 5 letters
- daddy2, pappy, pater2
- 6 letters
- father2
- 7 letters
- forbear
- 8 letters
- ancestor3
- 10 letters
- forefather3, highfather, longfather
- 11 letters
- grandfather3
- 13 letters
- paterfamilias
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (papa2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- patriarche
- Italiano
- patriarca
- Català
- patriarca