founders

NOUN

person who establishes an institution

Synonyms

STRONGEST

architect author benefactor builder creator designer inventor organizer patron planner

STRONG

beginner constructor framer generator initiator maker originator

WEAK

establisher forebearer institutor prime mover

Antonyms

STRONGEST

opponent

VERB

go under, fail

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abort break down fall through stumble

STRONG

collapse fall lurch miscarry misfire sink sprawl stagger submerge submerse trip

WEAK

be lost come to nothing go down go lame go to bottom

Antonyms

STRONG

increase rise

WEAK

accomplish achieve succeed

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The sales proceeds go to the newly public companies to invest in their future growth or to the companies’ founders wishing to cash in.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 22, 2026

P&G’s strategy of disrupting itself was embraced by William Cooper Procter, grandson of one of the company’s founders, who ran P&G from 1907 to 1930.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 22, 2026

Some founders have said they are more interested in preserving the character of their brands than big location growth.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 19, 2026

Palantir was born in 2003 from former founders of PayPal -- known as the PayPal Mafia -- in the wake of the September 11 attacks.

From Barron's • Jun. 18, 2026

He is interested in first founders, rather than in the long-term development of a discipline.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton