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
Her ancestors were from Russia, who later fled to Ukraine and settled in Philadelphia.
—
Colleen Kratofil, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
The idea was to go back to the basic foods that their ancestors ate.
—Chrystle Fiedler, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
The film, which premiered in Cannes earlier this year, tells the story of four cousins who inherit an old house in rural Normandy and retrace the steps of their ancestors in 19th century Paris.
—Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2025
His ancestors were the original owners of Nantucket island.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 1 Nov. 2025
So this toast is for the ancestors, those brave souls who wouldn’t settle for what was handed to them.
—Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 31 Oct. 2025
The concept is similar to the rare cases of humans who are born with rudimentary tails, a trait that was seen in primate ancestors over 25 million years ago, according to Brian Hall, research professor emeritus in evolutionary cell biology at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
Members of the Crow Tribe have said that when their ancestors migrated into the region 300-400 years ago, the Medicine Wheel was already here.
—Mike Bezemek, Outside, 29 Oct. 2025
In the early 2020s, ancestors of the founder worked to bring the brand back to life, refocusing on the original cast-iron products that cooks loved.
—Editors Of Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Oct. 2025
Colleen Kratofil, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
The idea was to go back to the basic foods that their ancestors ate.
—Chrystle Fiedler, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
The film, which premiered in Cannes earlier this year, tells the story of four cousins who inherit an old house in rural Normandy and retrace the steps of their ancestors in 19th century Paris.
—Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2025
His ancestors were the original owners of Nantucket island.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 1 Nov. 2025
So this toast is for the ancestors, those brave souls who wouldn’t settle for what was handed to them.
—Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 31 Oct. 2025
The concept is similar to the rare cases of humans who are born with rudimentary tails, a trait that was seen in primate ancestors over 25 million years ago, according to Brian Hall, research professor emeritus in evolutionary cell biology at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
Members of the Crow Tribe have said that when their ancestors migrated into the region 300-400 years ago, the Medicine Wheel was already here.
—Mike Bezemek, Outside, 29 Oct. 2025
In the early 2020s, ancestors of the founder worked to bring the brand back to life, refocusing on the original cast-iron products that cooks loved.
—Editors Of Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ancestors
Noun
-
In his latest partnership with Ancestry as part of the organization’s Thank You for Your Service campaign, Bass got to learn even more about both of his grandfathers’ service in the war.—
Stephen Daw,
Billboard,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Civil Code Section 4740 grandfathers rental prohibitions, while Section 4741 bans rental prohibitions and unreasonable restrictions.—
Kelly G. Richardson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Nov. 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
-
Compared to their forerunners in the tsarist era, with their party congresses held abroad, their executive committees, and their active recruitment in imperial Russia’s universities, Soviet dissidents remained a comparatively small and informal conglomeration of activists.—
Benjamin Nathans
September 24,
Literary Hub,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In fact, some famous fathers have doubled that average age, becoming dads past the age of 65.—
Sari Hitchins,
Parents,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Husbands and fathers were supposed to meet their major needs for food, shelter, and clothing.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The interaction between Hillary Galkin-Griffith from Three Hills Winery and Carol Erenyi, visiting for the weekend from Laguna Niguel with her husband, was typical of those whose wine tastings were precursors to future winery visits.—
Regina Elling,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Trump said that Xi committed to cracking down on the production of fentanyl precursors as well in exchange for lowering tariffs on China.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
What drove Roosevelt to diverge from his predecessors in his press dealings?—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
7 Nov. 2025
-
In 1865, Congress tried and failed to fund a bust of him to be placed in the Capitol along with those of his predecessors.—
Equal Justice Initiative,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ancestors.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ancestors. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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