Academic Dictionary
Home / Thesaurus / Patriarch
Find the word that fits

Patriarch: alternatives and connections

Begin with the reviewed alternatives, then explore broader connections without treating every related word as an automatic substitute.

Try an example: important law show help change happy
26,102 words currently have published synonym-style alternatives
90,593 searchable synonym connections
350,924 published thesaurus relationships of every type
Start with the meaning

Patriarch

The father and ruler of a family; one who governs his family or descendants by paternal right; -- usually applied to heads of families in ancient history, especially in Biblical and Jewish history to those who lived before the time of Moses.

View the full dictionary entry Compare this word with another →
52 useful connections shown 10 reviewed relationships and 42 broader connections.
Best place to begin

Reviewed alternatives and contrasts

These links were deliberately created. Use the interchangeability score and guidance to judge whether a word will work in your sentence.

Narrower term 2

Antediluvian 76% connected

Of or relating to the period before the Deluge in Noah's time; hence, antiquated; as, an antediluvian vehicle.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a narrower or more specific lexical category.

Definition Compare both words
Jacob 76% connected

A Hebrew patriarch (son of Isaac, and ancestor of the Jews), who in a vision saw a ladder reaching up to heaven (Gen. xxviii. 12); -- also called Isr…

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a narrower or more specific lexical category.

Definition Compare both words

Broader term 5

Father 76% connected

One who has begotten a child, whether son or daughter; a generator; a male parent.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

Definition Compare both words
Forefather 76% connected

One who precedes another in the line of genealogy in any degree, but usually in a remote degree; an ancestor.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

Definition Compare both words
Graybeard 76% connected

An old man.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

Definition Compare both words
Man 76% connected

A human being; -- opposed tobeast.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

Definition Compare both words
Sire 76% connected

A lord, master, or other person in authority. See Sir.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

Definition Compare both words

Derivationally related 2

Patriarchal 74% connected

Of or pertaining to a patriarch or to patriarchs; possessed by, or subject to, patriarchs; as, patriarchal authority or jurisdiction; a patriarchal s…

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

Definition Compare both words
Patriarchal 74% connected

Of or pertaining to a patriarch or to patriarchs; possessed by, or subject to, patriarchs; as, patriarchal authority or jurisdiction; a patriarchal s…

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

Definition Compare both words

Synonym 1

Paterfamilias 92% connected

The head of a family; in a large sense, the proprietor of an estate; one who is his own master.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

Definition Compare both words
Explore further

Words connected by meaning

Their definitions overlap or refer to similar ideas. Use these to widen your search, then compare the exact meanings.

-arch adjective · 78% connection

A suffix meaning a ruler, as in monarch (a sole ruler).

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: father, ruler, family, governs, descendants.
Definition Compare
Adjective noun · 78% connection

A word used with a noun, or substantive, to express a quality of the thing named, or something attributed to it, or to limit or define…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: father, ruler, family, governs, descendants.
Definition Compare
Agnation noun · 78% connection

line of descent traced through the paternal side of the family

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: father, ruler, family, governs, descendants.
Definition Compare
Alliance noun · 78% connection

The state of being allied; the act of allying or uniting; a union or connection of interests between families, states, parties, etc.,…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: father, ruler, family, governs, descendants.
Definition Compare
American noun · 78% connection

A native of America; -- originally applied to the aboriginal inhabitants, but now applied to the descendants of Europeans born in Amer…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: father, ruler, family, governs, descendants.
Definition Compare
Ancient adjective · 78% connection

belonging to times long past especially of the historical period before the fall of the Western Roman Empire; "ancient history"; "anci…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: father, ruler, family, governs, descendants.
Definition Compare
Antenna noun · 78% connection

A movable, articulated organ of sensation, attached to the heads of insects and Crustacea. There are two in the former, and usually fo…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: father, ruler, family, governs, descendants.
Definition Compare
Bohemian adjective · 78% connection

Of or pertaining to Bohemia, or to the language of its ancient inhabitants or their descendants. See Bohemian, n., 2.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: father, ruler, family, governs, descendants.
Definition Compare
Celt noun · 78% connection

One of an ancient race of people, who formerly inhabited a great part of Central and Western Europe, and whose descendants at the pres…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: father, ruler, family, governs, descendants.
Definition Compare
Chicory noun · 78% connection

perennial Old World herb having rayed flower heads with blue florets cultivated for its root and its heads of crisp edible leaves used…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: father, ruler, family, governs, descendants.
Definition Compare
Cormogeny noun · 78% connection

The embryological history of groups or families of individuals.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: father, ruler, family, governs, descendants.
Definition Compare
Emeer noun · 78% connection

An Arabian military commander, independent chieftain, or ruler of a province; also, an honorary title given to the descendants of Moha…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: father, ruler, family, governs, descendants.
Definition Compare
Entail noun · 78% connection

To settle or fix inalienably on a person or thing, or on a person and his descendants or a certain line of descendants; -- said especi…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: father, ruler, family, governs, descendants.
Definition Compare
Equatorial noun · 78% connection

An instrument consisting of a telescope so mounted as to have two axes of motion at right angles to each other, one of them parallel t…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: father, ruler, family, governs, descendants.
Definition Compare
Family verb · 78% connection

Those who descend from one common progenitor; a tribe, clan, or race; kindred; house; as, the human family; the family of Abraham; the…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: father, ruler, family, governs, descendants.
Definition Compare
Fatherly adjective · 78% connection

Like a father in affection and care; paternal; tender; protecting; careful.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: father, ruler, family, governs, descendants.
Definition Compare
Forisfamiliate verb · 78% connection

Literally, to put out of a family; hence, to portion off, so as to exclude further claim of inheritance; to emancipate (as a with his…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: father, ruler, family, governs, descendants.
Definition Compare
Govern verb · 78% connection

To require to be in a particular case; as, a transitive verb governs a noun in the objective case; or to require (a particular case);…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: father, ruler, family, governs, descendants.
Definition Compare
All dictionary tools

Explore Academic Dictionary

The same nine destinations available from the header menu are shown here as a clear, fully visible grid.

Dictionary Definitions and meanings Thesaurus Synonyms with nuance Academic writing Evidence and analysis Professional Workplace vocabulary Word origins Etymology and roots Subjects Specialist dictionaries Word clusters Connected vocabulary Word similarity Compare two words Crossword Play with vocabulary