1. a person who acts in a paternal way, especially by making decisions for others that limit their freedom or responsibility
Usage: often implies well-intentioned but controlling behavior

Examples

• The manager was criticized as a paternalist who micromanaged every detail of his employees’ work.
• Some viewed the new safety regulations as the work of paternalists who didn’t trust people to make their own choices.
• The paternalist believed he knew what was best for the community, even when residents disagreed.
• Critics called the politician a paternalist for supporting laws that restricted personal freedoms.
• The company’s paternalist approach included mandatory wellness programs that some workers resented.
• She rejected the paternalist attitude that women needed special protection in the workplace.