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.

“We find that age indeed predicts success, and sharply, but in the opposite way that many propose. The highest success rates in entrepreneurship come from founders in middle age and beyond,” the researchers reported.

From MarketWatch • Jul. 1, 2026

The founders probably wouldn’t be totally surprised it has come to this, but they would surely be depressed to know how incredibly nonsensical it all is.

From Salon • Jun. 30, 2026

The Qualified Small Business Stock tax break, or QSBS, allows founders to exclude up to $15 million in capital gains from their taxable income.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 29, 2026

One of the startup’s founders, Tony Pialis, is now executive vice president of data center tech at Qualcomm.

From Barron's • Jun. 28, 2026

Like those of us who had formed the Youth League fifteen years before, the founders of the new organization thought the ANC was insufficiently militant, out of touch with the masses, and dominated by non-Africans.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela