ANCESTRESS Synonyms: 31 Similar and Opposite Words

ancestress

noun

Definition of ancestress

as in grandmother

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of ancestress Yang Asha is the mythical ancestress of the Miao people, an ethnic minority in China closely related to the Hmong of Southeast Asia. — Keith Bradsher, New York Times, 26 Nov. 2020 His own mother, aged ninety, who remembered her aunt, had been able to share stories of their ancestress with the grandchildren who’d had no idea, before now, what their background might be. — Susan Choi, Harper's magazine, 6 Jan. 2020 Enshrined at Kashikodokoro is the sun goddess Amaterasu, the mythological ancestress of Japan’s emperors. — Washington Post, 22 Oct. 2019 Enshrined at Kashikodokoro is the sun goddess Amaterasu, the mythological ancestress of Japan's emperors. — NBC News, 22 Oct. 2019 Instead of being a reticulated mesh the genealogy of mtDNA is a clean and inverted elegant tree leading back to a common ancestress. — Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 17 Nov. 2010

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ancestress

Noun

Her grandmother sat on the single bed as Rebecca undid the back of her dress.

— Rachel Yoder, New Yorker, 2 Aug. 2026
Ladoo's grandmother shoos away flies that have settled on his milk bottle and feeds the baby.

— Diaa Hadid, NPR, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of grandmother

Noun

Graham is the unabashed matriarch of the flock, who every year chooses the destination, books the hut, plans the menu, does meal prep, and designs the commemorative T-shirts.

— Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 30 July 2026
In May 2022, the Kardashian-Jenner matriarch shared the details of her Los Angeles home with daughter Kourtney’s lifestyle brand Poosh.

— Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026

Definition of matriarch

Noun

Those with the funds to file a court case, essentially suing the Italian state for sexism against their female ancestors, are likely to win, but legal action is lengthy and costly.

— Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
Therefore, this benefit must reach everyone, not only those whose ancestors match the reference sets from past decades.

— William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of ancestor

Noun

Through our hair and its many rituals, remain the herbalism of our foremothers in the new world, passing down their ingenuity of homemade balms, creams, and oils for hair growth.

— Eshe Ukweli, refinery29.com, 7 June 2023
In fact, precursors to modern bleaching processes didn’t come on the scene until the turn of the 20th century, leaving our foremothers and forefathers plenty of time to get creative with their blonde pursuits.

— AJ Willingham, CNN, 28 May 2023

Definition of foremother

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Style

“Ancestress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ancestress. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of ancestress

noun

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