variants
also forbear
as in ancestor
a person who is several generations earlier in an individual's line of descent
his forebears came to America on the Mayflower
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of forebear
Emily Cooper may have a standout wardrobe of her own, but Lily Collins is paying homage to her fashionable forebears.
—
Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 10 Dec. 2025
Like its forebears, the comedy is played dead-straight.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
But the infusion of Audi sensibilities in no way makes the Gallardo a less exciting Lamborghini than its forebears.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 21 Nov. 2025
Bloc Party and Fugazi have been mentioned as forebears to the band’s vibe, but Paul Adamah, the Swedish band’s frontman, is a formidable force to be reckoned with completely on his own terms.
—Sarah Moroz, Pitchfork, 12 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for forebear
Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 10 Dec. 2025
Like its forebears, the comedy is played dead-straight.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
But the infusion of Audi sensibilities in no way makes the Gallardo a less exciting Lamborghini than its forebears.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 21 Nov. 2025
Bloc Party and Fugazi have been mentioned as forebears to the band’s vibe, but Paul Adamah, the Swedish band’s frontman, is a formidable force to be reckoned with completely on his own terms.
—Sarah Moroz, Pitchfork, 12 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for forebear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forebear
Noun
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The issue is also deeply personal for Hall—his tribal council has granted and rescinded his own enrollment, all based on evolving interpretations of old documents about an ancestor.—
David Treuer,
The Atlantic,
13 Jan. 2026
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The results show that the earliest lizard ancestors almost certainly lacked the armor altogether, with the trait remaining absent for tens of millions of years after lizards first evolved.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
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His late paternal grandfather, Stan Bregman, was a lawyer who once represented the old Washington Senators baseball club.—
Patrick Mooney,
New York Times,
15 Jan. 2026
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Pierce-Sherrod’s father, who went on to become the city’s chicken king, was born in Alabama and already owned a family business — a grocery store — with her grandfather before moving to Chicago.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In the earliest Greek texts, Phoinix was also the father of Europa, who, in mythology, was a princess, raped and carried off by Zeus and brought to the island of Crete.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Jan. 2026
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When Hodel died in 1999, Steve found a photo in his father’s belongings that appeared to be Short.—
Alex Gurley,
PEOPLE,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Forebear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forebear. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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