Thesaurus
Synonyms & Antonyms of ancestor
1
a person who is several generations earlier in an individual's line of descent
- Bridie's Irish ancestors immigrated to the United States in the 19th century during the Great Potato Famine
Synonyms for ancestor
- father,
- forebear
- (also forbear),
- forebearer,
- forefather,
- grandfather,
- primogenitor,
- progenitor
Words Related to ancestor
- antecessor,
- predecessor
- [archaic]
Near Antonyms for ancestor
Antonyms for ancestor
- descendant
- (also descendent)
2
something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed
- pinball machines—the ancestors of today's video games—go back to the 19th century
Synonyms for ancestor
- antecedent,
- archetype,
- daddy,
- foregoer,
- forerunner,
- granddaddy
- (also grandaddy),
- precursor,
- predecessor,
- prototype
Words Related to ancestor
Near Antonyms for ancestor
Antonyms for ancestor
- descendant
- (also descendent)
Learn More About ancestor
Cite this Entry
“Ancestor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ancestor. Accessed 13 Aug. 2022.
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Time Traveler for ancestor
The first known use of ancestor was in the 14th century
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