granddaddy

variants also grandaddy
as in ancestor
something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed the granddaddy of all English mystery novels

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 granddaddy The Munich Agreement The Munich Agreement – the deal that ceded the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia to Adolf Hitler’s Germany in a bid to avert war in Europe — is the granddaddy of historical analogies. Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2025 Then the old granddaddy of all the deer tribes came out of the thicket and followed the does. Chester Chatfield, Outdoor Life, 20 Aug. 2025 The granddaddy of all junior surf contests, The Menehune contest was first held at the La Jolla Shores in 1965 and was won by a young girl, Margot Godfrey (Oberg), a future world champion. News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Aug. 2025 This is the granddaddy of biases in the business world. Jj Rosen, The Tennessean, 24 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for granddaddy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for granddaddy
Noun
  • The ancestors were taken from the Riverside Cemetery site near the Menominee River in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula between 1961 and 1963 during a joint excavation led by anthropologists Robert Retzenthaler for the Milwaukee Public Museum and Robert Hrushka for the Oshkosh Public Museum.
    Frank Vaisvilas, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Furthermore, the analyses consistently position the new species as an ancestor of the entire dyrosaurid group.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Perfected by forerunners such as Fiona Apple and Alanis Morissette, this fall has already seen two music stars gift us with lay-it-all-out-there lyrics.
    Dan Heching, CNN Money, 28 Oct. 2025
  • The Park cinema launched under the ownership of Cineplex Odeon Cinemas, a forerunner of Cineplex and today an operator of multiplexes and out of home destinations.
    Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • While not entirely up to par with its predecessor, its incorporation of the Amityville house murders, Joseph Bishara's haunting musical score, and Wan's hyper-frenzied direction should still leave most Conjuring fans satisfied.
    Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Paramount Skydance predecessor Paramount Global went through multiple waves of layoffs in preparation for the merger.
    Peter White, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Granddaddy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/granddaddy. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!