variants
also forbears
as in ancestors
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 forebears
People grew accustomed to the expectation that each generation would surpass the horizons of their forebears.
—
Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 22 June 2026
Eight Dukes of Wellington and two very full centuries on from that 1825 procession, on this June 16, the 9th Duke rode, as each of his forbears did and as the future heirs to the ducal title will do, in the lead carriage with the king to open Royal Ascot.
—Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
Since then, Istanbul has seen only mayors from his AKP party and its forebears, the Welfare and Virtue parties.
—Kaya Genç, The Dial, 9 June 2026
In 1786, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson visited the site to see where, almost a century and a half earlier, their forebears had fought to dethrone a king, showing the world that another system of government was possible.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026
Reopening the door to China in 1972, Richard Nixon reawakened his forebears’ dream of making China embrace American-style democracy and capitalism.
—Wyatt Williams, Harpers Magazine, 2 June 2026
When Stanley Tucci isn’t busy making hit movies like The Devil Wears Prada 2, he can often be found in Italy, the land of his forebears.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 30 May 2026
The scene recalled the gruesome rampages of the RSF’s forebears, the janjaweed militias who terrorized Sudan’s Darfur region a generation ago.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026
Absent the lush melancholy of classic synth-pop, what Hervé and Amato had in common with their forbears was a spirit of innovation rooted in profound laziness.
—Walden Green, Pitchfork, 23 May 2026
Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 22 June 2026
Eight Dukes of Wellington and two very full centuries on from that 1825 procession, on this June 16, the 9th Duke rode, as each of his forbears did and as the future heirs to the ducal title will do, in the lead carriage with the king to open Royal Ascot.
—Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
Since then, Istanbul has seen only mayors from his AKP party and its forebears, the Welfare and Virtue parties.
—Kaya Genç, The Dial, 9 June 2026
In 1786, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson visited the site to see where, almost a century and a half earlier, their forebears had fought to dethrone a king, showing the world that another system of government was possible.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026
Reopening the door to China in 1972, Richard Nixon reawakened his forebears’ dream of making China embrace American-style democracy and capitalism.
—Wyatt Williams, Harpers Magazine, 2 June 2026
When Stanley Tucci isn’t busy making hit movies like The Devil Wears Prada 2, he can often be found in Italy, the land of his forebears.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 30 May 2026
The scene recalled the gruesome rampages of the RSF’s forebears, the janjaweed militias who terrorized Sudan’s Darfur region a generation ago.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026
Absent the lush melancholy of classic synth-pop, what Hervé and Amato had in common with their forbears was a spirit of innovation rooted in profound laziness.
—Walden Green, Pitchfork, 23 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forebears
Noun
-
Like their ancient ancestors, visitors standing at the center of the stone circle on Sunday will be able to watch the sun rise above the Heel Stone to the northeast — weather depending, of course.—
Elmira Aliieva,
NBC news,
18 June 2026
-
How did some of our oldest ancestors make the first step onto land some 350 million years ago?—
Sarah Durn,
Popular Science,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
Happy Father’s Day to fathers everywhere — birth fathers, stepfathers, adoptive and foster fathers, grandfathers, and all of you caring men who mentor children and fill the role of absent dads.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
21 June 2026
-
Many influential leadership lessons stem from grandfathers through personal stories and experiences.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
Noun
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Though strictly a fathers club, the group, Nieves said, has grown thanks to wives and partners sharing his social media posts with their husbands.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
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Golf provides the perfect setup for fathers to bond with their sons and daughters.—
John Dunlap,
Charlotte Observer,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Forebears.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forebears. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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