FOREBEAR Synonyms: 36 Similar and Opposite Words

forebear

noun

ˈfȯr-ˌber

variants also forbear

Definition of forebear

as in ancestor

a person who is several generations earlier in an individual's line of descent his forebears came to America on the Mayflower

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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 forebear For anyone wanting to see or experience the sites and vestiges of Miami’s ancient inhabitants, the people known as Tequesta and their even more enigmatic Archaic forebears, there are only a few places to go. — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026 Eight Dukes of Wellington and two very full centuries on from that 1825 procession, on this June 16, the 9th Duke rode, as each of his forbears did and as the future heirs to the ducal title will do, in the lead carriage with the king to open Royal Ascot. — Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026 Since then, Istanbul has seen only mayors from his AKP party and its forebears, the Welfare and Virtue parties. — Kaya Genç, The Dial, 9 June 2026 In 1786, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson visited the site to see where, almost a century and a half earlier, their forebears had fought to dethrone a king, showing the world that another system of government was possible. — Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for forebear

Recent Examples of Synonyms for forebear

Noun

Patrick Scribner has only limited memories of what, for generations, was home to his ancestors.

— Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 6 Sep. 2026
The Millers also see the hand of their ancestors in all of this.

— Lesley Stahl, CBS News, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of ancestor

Noun

This makes Gladden and Gaetti, who were pillars of the Minnesota Twins’ 1987 title team, grandfathers to the couple’s two boys, Luca, 9, and Malone, 5.

— Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Things like my grandfather’s grand piano and library were given to my dad and are still in his house.

— R. Eric Thomas, Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of grandfather

Noun

The Sosa siblings’ father, along with his two other sons and an uncle, set off to the Bahamas immediately on Monday afternoon to start searching themselves via boat.

— Alex Harris Updated September 8, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2026
His interview subjects range from people who worked with Musk at various companies and in the government to people who knew him intimately, including his father, Errol.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of father

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forebear

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“Forebear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forebear. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of forebear

noun

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