as in previous
going before another in time or order
I'd like to follow up on an antecedent question from another reporter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in cause
someone or something responsible for a result
what are the antecedents of the American Revolutionary War?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in forerunner
something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed
the typewriter is the antecedent of the computer keyboard
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of antecedent
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
14 May 2026
The realities of holding on to a job or keeping a company alive supersede any antecedent personal ethics.
—
Sachin H. Jain,
Forbes,
21 Jan. 2025
Charlotte Observer,
25 Feb. 2026
Many musical and social antecedents are responsible for its birth.
—
Literary Hub,
17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for antecedent
Adjective
The rocket's new, refined design is more powerful, more resilient and more capable than its antecedent iterations, and a step closer to a fully reusable launch vehicle.
—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
14 May 2026
The realities of holding on to a job or keeping a company alive supersede any antecedent personal ethics.
—
Sachin H. Jain,
Forbes,
21 Jan. 2025
Noun
And does the Green Goblin also have a Shakespearean antecedent?
—
Charlotte Observer,
25 Feb. 2026
Many musical and social antecedents are responsible for its birth.
—
Literary Hub,
17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for antecedent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for antecedent
Adjective
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But more than ever before, Nouel said, women are shirking the expectations of previous generations and considering all of their options to happiness, instead of staying in relationships that don't serve them.
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In the only previous World Cup match between the teams, Germany beat Paraguay 1-0 in the round of 16 at the 2002 tournament.
Noun
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The ruling did not address whether there was enough cause to remove Cook, based on the fraud allegations brought forth by the administration.
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Exertional heat stroke requires immediate medical attention and is the third leading cause of death in athletes.
Noun
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The city had a history of assimilating such yearners, most notably Madonna, Swift’s forerunner and her own Middle American transplant success story.
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The group, which includes Chrysler, Fiat, Peugeot and Citroen, is becoming a forerunner in the promising progress of a new type of vehicle battery.
Noun
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Kean comes from a long line of public servants, stretching 250 years to the country’s founding when one of his ancestors became New Jersey’s first leader since independence.
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One of these is likely the evolutionary ancestor of all that is to come.
Noun
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Those resolutions are considered a precursor to the Declaration of Independence.
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Feeding peanuts to the fans evolved, but the early days, whether for the precursor to Aramark or the work of Stevens, were all about a few simple items.
Noun
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Vahidi, who assumed the role after his predecessor Mohammad Pakpour was killed in US-Israeli strikes on the first day of the war, is rarely seen in public.
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The elaborate funeral of his predecessor, Ruhollah Khomeini, was also orchestrated to demonstrate leadership continuity in 1989.
Cite this Entry
“Antecedent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/antecedent. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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