antecedent 1 of 2

antecedent

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word antecedent distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of antecedent are anterior, foregoing, former, preceding, previous, and prior. While all these words mean "being before," antecedent applies to order in time and may suggest a causal relation.

conditions antecedent to the revolution

When can anterior be used instead of antecedent?

While the synonyms anterior and antecedent are close in meaning, anterior applies to position before or ahead of usually in space, sometimes in time or order.

the anterior lobe of the brain

In what contexts can foregoing take the place of antecedent?

The words foregoing and antecedent can be used in similar contexts, but foregoing applies chiefly to statements.

the foregoing remarks

Where would former be a reasonable alternative to antecedent?

The words former and antecedent are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, former implies always a definite comparison or contrast with something that is latter.

the former name of the company

When might preceding be a better fit than antecedent?

The synonyms preceding and antecedent are sometimes interchangeable, but preceding usually implies being immediately before in time or in place.

the preceding sentence

How are the words previous and prior related as synonyms of antecedent?

Both previous and prior imply existing or occurring earlier, but prior often adds an implication of greater importance.

a child from a previous marriage
a prior obligation

Example Sentences

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 antecedent
Adjective
Responsible purchasing is antecedent to fair and equitable decarbonization in the supply chain. Hakan Karaosman, Sourcing Journal, 17 Oct. 2024 Relaxed high-altitude winds, the spreading of air aloft and the presence of an antecedent tropical wave all made for the formation of a hurricane — but record-warm water temperatures, reminiscent of September, helped transform the storm into a top-tier tempest. Amanda Coletta, Washington Post, 2 July 2024
Noun
Research On The Nature Of Creativity A number of researchers have focused their studies on a more diverse set of factors that serve as antecedents to creativity. Brady Gilliam, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025 Yet critics and journalists can longer trace its antecedents to An American in Paris, Bonjour Tristesse and Breathless, thus proving our detachment from our Western moral foundations. Armond White, National Review, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for antecedent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for antecedent
Adjective
  • The previous time City had played at Wembley was a decade earlier, for the memorable win over Gillingham.
    Michael Cox, New York Times, 29 June 2025
  • For example, in March 2024, the UN reported that in the previous year, 100 allegations were reported in peacekeeping and special political missions.
    Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
Noun
  • Still, the lack of a clear succession plan is a cause of great anxiety in a country where the monarch has long served as a bastion of stability.
    Charlie Campbell, Time, 26 June 2025
  • The cause of the Bootid meteor shower is dust and debris left in the inner solar system by comet 7P/Pons-Winnecke, a near-Earth short-period comet that orbits the sun every six years.
    Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
Noun
  • This is, in part, explained by the institutional memory of the competition’s forerunner — the Intercontinental Cup — and the legendary battles of a bygone era.
    James Horncastle, New York Times, 19 June 2025
  • Another forerunner of today’s scene is Ansedonia, a hillside community of upscale homes near Capalbio that in the 1960s became popular with creative types from the Italian capital.
    Lee Marshall, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • As Charles Handy explained in The Age of Paradox, modern life forces us to navigate complexities our ancestors never faced, such as the tension between efficiency and humanity or between individual freedom and collective responsibility.
    Shane Enete, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
  • Throughout the middle passage, it has been said that our ancestors wove familiar items such as beads, shells, or even seeds and grains from home into their braids, to keep with them along their journeys.
    Essence, Essence, 19 June 2025
Noun
  • Cravats were a precursor to the modern necktie, which emerged in the late 19th and early 20th century.
    Kristopher Fraser, Robb Report, 20 June 2025
  • Real Madrid were among the favorites to win the first-of-its-kind tournament, which is a precursor to next year’s FIFA World Cup.
    Sean Neumann, People.com, 19 June 2025
Noun
  • Times staff writer Lila Seidman reports that a May 27 legal opinion by President Trump’s DOJ overturns a more than 80-year-old Justice Department determination that presidents can’t revoke national monuments created by their predecessors under the Antiquities Act.
    Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2025
  • Seely, who has served as president of Varsity Spirit since 2017—and began his career as an instructor with its predecessor organization, the Universal Cheerleaders Association, in 1989—said he’s been considering a professional league for more than a decade.
    Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 18 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Antecedent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/antecedent. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

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