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
Susanne Hammel-Sawyer grew up in Santa Barbara knowing nearly nothing about the traditions of her Chumash ancestors.
—
Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
In October 2024, the lab firm used genealogical mapping, in which unidentified DNA is traced to relatives and ancestors to produce a more precise genetic profile and possible identity, to point to Contreras, according to the affidavit.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
Over ten million years ago, long before the human species existed, our hominid ancestors adapted to metabolize alcohol.
—Literary Hub, 7 Jan. 2026
They have been widely cultivated for centuries, but their wild ancestors are native to the mountainous regions of Central Asia.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 7 Jan. 2026
More than a century later, even after emancipation, that idea still shaped how my ancestors were laid to rest.
—Jeffrey Bennett, Time, 5 Jan. 2026
But exactly when our ancient ancestors evolved this trait was a mystery—until now.
—Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 2 Jan. 2026
Its private lake, Leask Lake, is believed to have an underwater passage through which whales traveled, and the property is in view of Estero Peak, where Homalco ancestors are said to have survived a great flood by tying canoes to its summit.
—Katie Nanton, Travel + Leisure, 30 Dec. 2025
The ancestors of leeches were unlikely to have sucked blood.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025
Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
In October 2024, the lab firm used genealogical mapping, in which unidentified DNA is traced to relatives and ancestors to produce a more precise genetic profile and possible identity, to point to Contreras, according to the affidavit.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
Over ten million years ago, long before the human species existed, our hominid ancestors adapted to metabolize alcohol.
—Literary Hub, 7 Jan. 2026
They have been widely cultivated for centuries, but their wild ancestors are native to the mountainous regions of Central Asia.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 7 Jan. 2026
More than a century later, even after emancipation, that idea still shaped how my ancestors were laid to rest.
—Jeffrey Bennett, Time, 5 Jan. 2026
But exactly when our ancient ancestors evolved this trait was a mystery—until now.
—Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 2 Jan. 2026
Its private lake, Leask Lake, is believed to have an underwater passage through which whales traveled, and the property is in view of Estero Peak, where Homalco ancestors are said to have survived a great flood by tying canoes to its summit.
—Katie Nanton, Travel + Leisure, 30 Dec. 2025
The ancestors of leeches were unlikely to have sucked blood.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ancestors
Noun
-
Their twins—John and William, named for their grandfathers—were lost.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Nov. 2025
-
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
Noun
-
The primacy of a central meeting space can be traced to the Greek Empire with the agora, among other forerunners.—
Jeanne Bonner,
CNN Money,
19 Dec. 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
-
The teacher hosted career days during which fathers came to tell us about their jobs.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Jan. 2026
-
These boys are our future college graduates, workforce, homeowners and fathers.—
Walter Fields,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Those materials include sodium perchlorate, ammonium perchlorate precursors and nitrocellulose, all key components in solid-fuel rocket motors.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
30 Dec. 2025
-
But as the precursors have rolled in, co-star Benicio Del Toro — playing a character the audience loves and roots for — has swept nearly every major critics group.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
18 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
What separates Trump from many of his predecessors is not an appetite for war, but a refusal to tolerate endless gray zones.—
Jason D. Greenblatt,
semafor.com,
9 Jan. 2026
-
House of Fear also departs from its predecessors in that there can be only one winner.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ancestors.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ancestors. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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