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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of forebear
But the real transformation came when our hominin predecessors, the forebears of Neanderthals and Homo sapiens, broke from this pattern.
—
Literary Hub, 1 May 2026
Medical science has blessed our generation with an abundance of preventive methods — including vaccines — and treatments that enable a far greater percentage of us to live longer and healthier lives than our forebears.
—Chicago Tribune, Twin Cities, 30 Apr. 2026
Two hundred fifty years ago our political forebears softened their biases and brought forth something new and remarkable.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2026
Medical science has blessed our generation with an abundance of preventive methods — including vaccines — and treatments that enable a far greater percentage of us to live longer and healthier lives than our forebears.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for forebear
Literary Hub, 1 May 2026
Medical science has blessed our generation with an abundance of preventive methods — including vaccines — and treatments that enable a far greater percentage of us to live longer and healthier lives than our forebears.
—Chicago Tribune, Twin Cities, 30 Apr. 2026
Two hundred fifty years ago our political forebears softened their biases and brought forth something new and remarkable.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2026
Medical science has blessed our generation with an abundance of preventive methods — including vaccines — and treatments that enable a far greater percentage of us to live longer and healthier lives than our forebears.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for forebear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forebear
Noun
-
Our ancestors—the hard-working, long-suffering peasant women who told these stories to each other and passed them down the generations through the oral tradition—knew everything there was to know about adversity.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
-
The contest also encouraged students to think of ways to prevent water pollution, and how our ancestors may have loved to save water.—
Julie Gallant,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
The young Khomeini, who doesn’t hold a government position, spoke at the main ceremony commemorating his great grandfather’s death 37 years ago.—
Frederik Pleitgen,
CNN Money,
5 June 2026
-
Owner Ray Biggerstaff announced his retirement, signaling the end of an era for the company founded in 1948 by his grandfather, Raymond Biggerstaff.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
San Antonio's roster, meanwhile, features another son of a longtime pro in Dylan Harper, whose father, Ron, won five NBA championships in the span of six seasons with Chicago and the Lakers.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
4 June 2026
-
Besides Dara’s statement, what TJ says about his own father sheds some light on West.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Forebear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forebear. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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