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
The Dutch — forebears of our city and exemplars of cycling culture — require fast e-bikes to be licensed and insured as mopeds.
—
Sameer Butt, New York Daily News, 4 Jan. 2026
These names tie us to our forebears, in this case by reminding us of older ways of keeping time.
—Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026
Those philosophers are better considered the forebears of the more august tradition of criticizing stuff without doing it first.
—Literary Hub, 22 Dec. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for forebear
Sameer Butt, New York Daily News, 4 Jan. 2026
These names tie us to our forebears, in this case by reminding us of older ways of keeping time.
—Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026
Those philosophers are better considered the forebears of the more august tradition of criticizing stuff without doing it first.
—Literary Hub, 22 Dec. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for forebear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forebear
Noun
-
Some of those ancestors left Africa to explore Europe.—
Ari Daniel,
NPR,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Gibson is passionate about introducing fans to underrepresented voices and tipping her cap to the mothers, grandmothers, and other ancestors who inspired us all along the way.—
Karla Walsh,
Southern Living,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The company, Christian Brothers Hockey Sticks, was founded by his grandfather and great-uncle, 1960 Olympic hockey stars Bill and Roger Christian.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Kocher was a grandfather and a sucker for extra hours on the bike trails, Beckley said.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Holly didn't have access to the safe except for brief times when it was opened by his father, according to the lawyer.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Feb. 2026
-
These abuses include the murder of inmates’ infants, a fact that galvanizes the pregnant Alouette (the father of her child, Étienne, is a quarryman) into joining a plan for escape through the Paris sewers.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Forebear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forebear. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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