forebearers

noun

plural of forebearer
as in ancestors
a person who is several generations earlier in an individual's line of descent villagers who still practice many of the customs of their forebearers

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for forebearers
  1. ancestors
  2. grandfathers
  3. fathers
Noun
  • Essay Get the Lead Out Alex Manley Our ancestors were born to die by predators.
    — Naomi Skwarna, hazlitt.net, 25 Aug. 2026
  • For the last decade, genealogical consultant Grant Din has helped Asian Americans find information about their ancestors, many of whom passed through San Francisco’s Angel Island Immigration Station in the 1900s.
    — Stephanie Lam, Mercury News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of ancestors
Noun
  • Born in Russell County, Virginia, Hubbard was largely raised by his grandfathers, both union coal miners with missing fingers, and still speaks with an Appalachian twang.
    — Michelle Lhooq, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Sorrell, whose grandfathers both played in the majors, slugged 23 home runs and 20 doubles in 56 games while drawing 33 walks and striking out 61 times.
    — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026
Definition of grandfathers
Noun
  • In Brothers, both McConaughey and Harrelson’s characters look back at their fathers’ legacies while also navigating being good fathers themselves.
    — Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Other people are rarely the focus of blame in cases where fathers kill their children.
    — Dr. Susan Hatters Friedman, Hartford Courant, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of fathers
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Forebearers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forebearers. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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