as in donors
one that helps another with gifts or money
an anonymous benefactor gave the school a dozen new computers
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Recent Examples of benefactors
These include decisions by a hostile California judiciary which, especially in the last two decades, have sided with the government and its special interest benefactors by creating loopholes that significantly weakened taxpayer protections that had stood for over 40 years.
—
Jon Coupal, Oc Register, 26 Apr. 2026
The filmmakers reserved their incisive commentary not for Wintour or her staff, but for their notable friends and benefactors The Bezoses.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026
The museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and is privately operated by a corporation of just under 1,000 benefactors who have an endowment of over $2 billion.
—Claudia Williams, Architectural Digest, 16 Apr. 2026
The benefactors, on the other hand, wore their wealth with ease.
—Douglas Stuart, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
The gifts have come from individual donors and corporate benefactors such as JBL, which has provided speakers and equipment, as well as guitar makers Fender and Gibson, among others.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2026
Additionally, these revenue-sharing numbers don’t include third-party NIL payments, which can provide a significant advantage to schools with a large alumni base — or with wealthy benefactors, which has been the case at Oregon (Phil Knight) and Indiana (Mark Cuban), for instance.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 27 Feb. 2026
Red McCombs, one of the most prodigious benefactors in UT history who gave more than $100 million to the school’s athletic programs before his death in 2023, famously criticized the hiring of former head football coach Charlie Strong in 2014.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 16 Feb. 2026
Senators say Meredith O’Rourke is spearheading donor relations for the Freedom 250 group and the White House ballroom renovation project, which is also being funded by private benefactors.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 12 Feb. 2026
Jon Coupal, Oc Register, 26 Apr. 2026
The filmmakers reserved their incisive commentary not for Wintour or her staff, but for their notable friends and benefactors The Bezoses.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026
The museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and is privately operated by a corporation of just under 1,000 benefactors who have an endowment of over $2 billion.
—Claudia Williams, Architectural Digest, 16 Apr. 2026
The benefactors, on the other hand, wore their wealth with ease.
—Douglas Stuart, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
The gifts have come from individual donors and corporate benefactors such as JBL, which has provided speakers and equipment, as well as guitar makers Fender and Gibson, among others.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2026
Additionally, these revenue-sharing numbers don’t include third-party NIL payments, which can provide a significant advantage to schools with a large alumni base — or with wealthy benefactors, which has been the case at Oregon (Phil Knight) and Indiana (Mark Cuban), for instance.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 27 Feb. 2026
Red McCombs, one of the most prodigious benefactors in UT history who gave more than $100 million to the school’s athletic programs before his death in 2023, famously criticized the hiring of former head football coach Charlie Strong in 2014.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 16 Feb. 2026
Senators say Meredith O’Rourke is spearheading donor relations for the Freedom 250 group and the White House ballroom renovation project, which is also being funded by private benefactors.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 12 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for benefactors
Noun
-
In The Lever, Luke Goldstein and Katya Schwenk profiled Majority Democrats, one of the post-2024 groups set up by donors who think the Democrats need strategies and language that will win back less culturally liberal voters.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
29 Apr. 2026
-
This story was produced with financial support from Trish and Dan Bell and donors in South Florida’s Jewish and Muslim communities, including Khalid and Diana Mirza and the Mohsin and Fauzia Jaffer Foundation, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
That’s the gold standard of cancer designations that allows patients and donators alike to understand Sylvester’s standards.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Benefactors.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/benefactors. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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