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

The history of American business is filled with founders who took huge risks.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 22, 2026

“It was definitely part of the pitch that we were the good guys,” says a former employee, who said founders and others emphasized the value of improving the market’s efficiency.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 20, 2026

Kurtz, 55, was one of the founders of security firm Foundstone in 1999, which was acquired by McAfee in 2004.

From Barron's • Jun. 19, 2026

One by one the old women who had been founders of the town, several of whom had taken part in the daring crossing of the mountains, praised the virtues of General Moncada.

From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez