fountainhead

noun

ˈfau̇n-tᵊn-ˌhed How to pronounce fountainhead (audio)
Definition of fountainheadnext
1
as in source
a point or place at which something is invented or provided historically, California has served as the fountainhead of that eclectic group of self-actualization movements known as the New Age

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in origin
the source from which something grows or develops a collection of lyrical ballads that became the fountainhead of a literary revolution

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fountainhead Their destination was the ancestral hearth, spiritual fountainhead, and reliquary of antiquities, the country home of the Wariboko war-canoe family. — Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2026 Drummer Booker Stardrum sits behind the kit for rising jazz jammers SML, while Moog player Ben Vida co-founded the turn-of-the-century minimalist-ambient group Town & Country, and logged time in post-emo fountainhead Joan of Arc. — Reed Jackson, SPIN, 3 July 2026 The board pointed to the 46th annual OB Street Fair & Chili Cook-Off on Saturday, June 27, along Newport Avenue as a possible fountainhead of public input, given the usual thousands of people who attend. — Steven Mihailovich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2026 But what if, rather than a trickle of tech, the fountainhead itself comprised the car—a street-legal, limited-production Formula 1 model? — Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 13 Oct. 2025 Trump’s aggressive acts were red meat for those who view California as the fountainhead of permissive behavior. — Dan Walters, Mercury News, 11 June 2025 On the day of the Belvedere's dedication, hundreds of students from Louisville schools released balloons into the sky and watched as fountainheads sprayed water in a dazzling display. — Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 1 Mar. 2025 In the same fashion, the free university, historically the fountainhead of free ideas and scientific discovery, has experienced a revolution in the conduct of research. — Kristan Hawkins, Newsweek, 6 Feb. 2025 From tea drinking to persimmon cultivation, the city became a fountainhead of Japanese food culture. — Megan Zhang, Saveur, 9 May 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fountainhead
  1. source
  2. origin
  3. cradle
  4. root
  5. fountain
  6. beginning
Noun
  • The San Diego Padres will call up top catching prospect Ethan Salas when rosters expand Tuesday, a team source told The Athletic on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the move.
    — Dennis Lin, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • From February through July 2026, ELG exceeded its plan by approximately $400 million of gross merchandise value, sources said.
    — David Moin, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of source
Noun
  • Most also agree on the origin of the beans, which are said to come from the low valleys and mountain slopes of the Andes in Peru.
    — Margy Rochlin, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The actor opened up about the origins of his steely exterior in a 2023 interview with USA TODAY.
    — Edward Segarra, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of origin
Noun
  • Soft, dynamic cushioning cradles your feet with every step while providing maximum support, providing transition assistance between launch and landing.
    — Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Here in a quiet public garden overlooked by the tourist guides, his fingers reverently trace a volcanic stone from Þingvellir, the ancient cradle of Icelandic democracy.
    — Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of cradle
Noun
  • Kérastase’s Densifique Bain Densité Shampoo can help, balancing a deep cleanse with density-boosting (and hydrating) ingredients, including hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and gluco-peptides, to plump the cuticle and reduce breakage from root-to-tip.
    — Madison San Miguel, Allure, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Having a healthy lawn means managing soil conditions for the roots, mowing properly, and strengthening the density of the grass by overseeding.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of root
Noun
  • Trump had refurbished two ornamental fountains, for seventeen million dollars, and wants the park to have forty-seven maple trees, in homage to himself.
    — Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The Spanish Colonial compound is a labyrinth of courtyards filled with fountains and flowering plants.
    — Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of fountain
Noun
  • The question that matters most A famous name should be the beginning of the conversation, not the end of it.
    — Jason St. Angelo, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The new findings indicate that last year’s increases were a momentary surge, rather than the beginning of a positive trend.
    — Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of beginning

Browse Nearby Words

fountained
fountainhead
fountainheads
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Cite this Entry

“Fountainhead.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fountainhead. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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