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
Polish-born and Paris-based, Piotr Kamler is an experimental animator whose work explores temporal distortions and spatial paradoxes, conjuring here a slow-creeping sense of entrapment intensified by an unnerving soundscape—a clear antecedent to Barker’s nightmarish visions. Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 21 May 2025 European hard-right parties, some with fascist antecedents, hope to capitalize on Mr. Trump’s unrelenting presence and emulate his victory. Roger Cohen, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for antecedent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for antecedent
Adjective
  • Thibodeau, both with the Knicks and his previous teams, was notorious for riding his starters into the ground.
    Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
  • In previous shutdowns, many federal workers were furloughed without mass firings.
    Jamie Tarabay, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women, behind lung cancer, although death rates have been decreasing over the last three decades.
    Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Nobody wants to be seen by voters as the cause of a shutdown that will leave many federal workers without pay and some services closed.
    Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • 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
  • The event turned out to be a forerunner to the UN Earth Summit.
    Ted Johnson, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Demosponges are soft and squishy filter feeders and their ancestors likely shared similar characteristics.
    Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Where Lil Boosie and Kevin Gates are hometown heroes, two artists who are direct ancestors for YoungBoy’s style, YoungBoy is more notorious, fodder for the gossip shows and the minor podcasts that infiltrate their way onto your timeline.
    Jayson Buford, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Once most of the ticker tape had been cleared from the pitch, and the game finally started, all this seemed to have rattled the Netherlands, who played an unusually physical brand of football, perhaps a precursor to their infamous 2010 final display against Spain.
    Michael Cox, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
  • With Tagovailoa, however, that off-the-field chemistry has always been a precursor to what happens in between the lines.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 4 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Farley has managed to woo Wall Street more than his two most recent predecessors — both of whom departed the company after double-digit losses in Ford's stock price.
    Michael Wayland, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
  • FanDuel Sports Network was previously branded under the Bally’s name, part of a deal between the casino operator and Main Street’s predecessor, Diamond Sports Group.
    Brian Steinberg, Variety, 1 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Antecedent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/antecedent. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

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