1
as in grandfathers
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 & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in forerunners
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 & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ancestors
This is among the most universal pieces of advice from our ancestors.
—
Jonathan Haidt, The Atlantic, 14 May 2026
One by one, group members tearfully thanked their ancestors and poured white rum on the beach.
—ABC News, 14 May 2026
Muslim Americans too have claimed the couple as ancestors, forging a lineage in America that stretches back before the formation of the United States, an alluring story of American origins, belonging, and place within a national story that has largely rejected them.
—Literary Hub, 14 May 2026
The animals were native to northern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, and their ancestors were brought to North America by explorers.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 14 May 2026
In a town in northern Peru, a teenager addicted to video games begins to desecrate the sacred ruins of his ancestors in search of money to continue playing.
—Roberto Prieto, Variety, 13 May 2026
The group of 80-some species has ancestors going back tens of millions of years, originating in Asia.
—Craig Stanford, Big Think, 7 May 2026
The Declaration had many ancestors.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
His next trip will be to Scotland to place his mother's stones where her ancestors were from.
—Lexi Lane, PEOPLE, 3 May 2026
Jonathan Haidt, The Atlantic, 14 May 2026
One by one, group members tearfully thanked their ancestors and poured white rum on the beach.
—ABC News, 14 May 2026
Muslim Americans too have claimed the couple as ancestors, forging a lineage in America that stretches back before the formation of the United States, an alluring story of American origins, belonging, and place within a national story that has largely rejected them.
—Literary Hub, 14 May 2026
The animals were native to northern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, and their ancestors were brought to North America by explorers.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 14 May 2026
In a town in northern Peru, a teenager addicted to video games begins to desecrate the sacred ruins of his ancestors in search of money to continue playing.
—Roberto Prieto, Variety, 13 May 2026
The group of 80-some species has ancestors going back tens of millions of years, originating in Asia.
—Craig Stanford, Big Think, 7 May 2026
The Declaration had many ancestors.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
His next trip will be to Scotland to place his mother's stones where her ancestors were from.
—Lexi Lane, PEOPLE, 3 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ancestors
Noun
-
The captains were the fathers, or at least the grandfathers, of this genre.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Her grandfathers were military.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Even the Hammurabi Code, a set of laws created by the sixth Babylonian king in approximately 1760 bce, established forerunners of today’s interest rate and minimum wage laws.—
Chris Roush,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
22 Apr. 2026
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The Norwegian ended his season before the Olympics to further recover from a shoulder injury, but attended the finals as one of the forerunners, who test a course shortly before a race starts.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In November 2025, the fathers told the court about their child’s birth and a day later, Uthmeier, the AG, began pushing his way into this case.—
Ann Marie Luft,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 May 2026
-
Softness and even open expression of feelings between fathers and sons are not part of the male Circassian factory model.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
And then, thanks to the precursors to the storm that ultimately ended the first round early — the wind, above all else — the weather made the last few shots on the course brutal.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
8 May 2026
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Take China’s export of fentanyl precursors, which the Drug Enforcement Agency first flagged as a serious problem back in 2015.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Disney also showed a trailer for advertisers and media buyers during Tuesday’s presentation, hinting at how the series will ultimately connect to its two predecessors.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
12 May 2026
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And if things keep going Firstman’s way, his first feature, which also stars Cara Delevingne and Diego Calva, will prove to be just as popular as its like-minded predecessors.—
Elaina Patton,
IndieWire,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ancestors.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ancestors. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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