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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
Chinatown is, therefore, very much in argument with the style and structure of its antecedents, manifestly not the neo-noir it is often said to be. airmail.news, 20 July 2024 At an apparel level, the two do habitually converse—Coco Chanel launched her business making tennis dresses, and today’s athleisure has antecedents in Claire McCardell’s bodysuits and Y2K-era Prada Sport. Maya Singer, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for antecedent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for antecedent
Adjective
  • The Heat, by making the playoffs, wound up at No. 15 in the draft order, with that selection now belonging to the Oklahoma City Thunder, to complete a previous trade obligation.
    Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 13 May 2025
  • The email continues: Unfortunately, the previous owner did not disclose that thousands of Lifetime Deals (LTDs) had been sold through platforms like StackSocial.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 12 May 2025
Noun
  • Take a night run or rock on to support good causes, go to a block party, have a scary good time, listen to heroic tunes or shop local at a farmers market.
    John Coffren, Baltimore Sun, 9 May 2025
  • The Oceanside Police Department is actively investigating the cause of the crash, per the Oceanside Fire Department.
    Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 9 May 2025
Noun
  • While his Late Night forerunner Letterman was probably the comedic polestar of Generation X—gruff, cynical, and biting the hand that fed—O’Brien became a bedrock influence for the next generation of Millennial comics.
    David Sims, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2025
  • The New York Dolls were forerunners of punk, and the band's style -- teased hair, women's clothes and lots of makeup -- inspired the glam movement that took up residence in heavy metal a decade later in bands like Faster Pussycat and Mötley Crüe.
    MARK KENNEDY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, arkansasonline.com, 2 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Porter County Board of Commissioners President Jim Biggs noted his ancestors were among the first white settlers in the county in 1835, at a settlement a few hundred feet from the site.
    Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 18 May 2025
  • Moringa oleifera is native to Indian subcontinent, particularly the Himalayan foothills, while another species, Moringa stenopetala, grows in the Horn of Africa: southern Ethiopia, northern Kenya, and even Somalia, where Elba’s ancestors are from.
    India Espy-Jones, Essence, 15 May 2025
Noun
  • Passionate about utopian socialism and architecture, Gaudí’s forms and shapes were totally fresh, otherworldly and are sometimes referred to as a precursor of the Surrealist movement, of which Salvator Dalí was a key proponent.
    Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 8 May 2025
  • Back then, President Barack Obama cancelled the space agency’s Constellation program—the precursor of Artemis, which was aiming to have bootprints back on the moon as early as 2015.
    Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 6 May 2025
Noun
  • This isn’t going to be exactly like its immediate predecessors.
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 15 May 2025
  • As this report explained, each park broke new ground and exceeded the expectations set by its predecessors.
    Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Antecedent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/antecedent. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

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