descendant 1 of 2

adjective

di-ˈsen-dənt How to pronounce descendant (audio)
variants also descendent
Definition of descendantnext
as in bowing
bending downward or forward the descendant branches of a weeping willow

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

descendant

2 of 2

noun

variants also descendent
as in successor

Related Words

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 descendant
Adjective
Don Jose, a perfect example that for Latinos rooted in ancestral Mesoamerican and Afro-descendant mutual aid customs, helping is not a choice. — Literary Hub, 17 Feb. 2026 The descendant, or seventh house of intimacy, is the opposite sign of the ascendant, which describes our ideal mate. — Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2026
Noun
In fact, the two of them are actually related—Daenerys is Rhaenyra’s descendant from House Targaryen. — Parents, 31 July 2026 The director is a descendant of the First Nations, and the film questions the colonial myth of what is beyond the frontier and how this myth still affects people. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for descendant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for descendant
  1. nodding
  2. successor
  3. weeping
  4. offspring
  5. descending
  6. progeny
  7. scion
  8. child
Adjective
  • James O’Donoghue, a planetary scientist with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, likened our planet’s tilting phenomenon to a nodding head.
    — Aylin Woodward, WSJ, 21 Dec. 2021
Definition of nodding
Noun
  • After almost five years under Eddie Howe, successor Matthias Jaissle has been in post for less than a fortnight and has overseen just two pre-season friendlies.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Her contemporary successor was drawn directly from Herreshoff’s original plans, resulting in an incredibly accurate recreation.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of successor
Adjective
  • And every day, across from them, outside the clinic, about to enter or just leaving, there were women hugging each other and weeping.
    — David Mamet, National Review, 11 Aug. 2022
  • The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.
    — Helen Shaw, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2021
Definition of weeping
Noun
  • But one of Monty and Rose's offspring, a male named Imani, went on nesting at Montrose Beach and was paired with a female named Sea Rocket.
    — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2026
  • In animals that have litters, such as rodents, dogs, cats, pigs and kangaroos, a dead fetus will be reabsorbed by the mother’s body to protect the rest of her offspring.
    — Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of offspring
Adjective
  • The three-part framework is, at its core, a descending order of difficulty and an ascending order of effectiveness.
    — Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
  • For the most part, most of them wore gowns that could fit through the revolving door at the Hotel Du Cap onto the grand descending stairway, read few came close to rivaling Skye Hankey’s boa yellow dress last year which provided an elegant challenge for exits and entrances.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 22 May 2026
Definition of descending
Noun
  • This renunciation has had little impact on their progeny, who already studied them for years and viewed their content as a portrait of a viable future.
    — Margaux MacColl, Vanity Fair, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Two rising progeny of big names sharing space on a call sheet would be surreal enough, but the series that small screen impresario Ryan Murphy adapted from the novel by Bret Easton Ellis goes one step further.
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 30 July 2026
Definition of progeny
Noun
  • The tech scion initially exuded confidence that Hollywood’s biggest merger in decades was on a fast track to completion by September.
    — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026
  • No fewer than two dozen sitting members of Congress have endorsed the young scion’s campaign, including political kingmaker Jim Clyburn in South Carolina and former Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Steven Horsford.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of scion
Noun
  • Sun-protective clothing has long had an audience with swimmers, surfers and young children donning the trusty rash guard, as well as hikers and athletes.
    — Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Family and religion Sabio and his wife, Abigail, have five children.
    — Amy DeLaura, The Washington Examiner, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of child

Browse Nearby Words

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descendant
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Cite this Entry

“Descendant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descendant. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of descendant for Spanish Speakers

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