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
The Dracula of Bram Stoker’s novel, a sophisticated aristocrat, remains, like his forebears, an unwelcome stranger.
—
Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2026
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
Like its forebears, the comedy is played dead-straight.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
Yet while most wound up being little more than footnotes in the books, Lamborghini managed to build a new mid-engined monster that would prove a successful successor to its forebears on children’s bedroom walls and in rich men’s driveways alike.
—Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 2025
This multihyphenate job description instantly puts Sennott under the same spotlight as her forebears Lena Dunham and Issa Rae, women who were also given the golden ticket of a series on TV’s most prestigious platform at a strikingly young age.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 30 Oct. 2025
Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2026
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
Like its forebears, the comedy is played dead-straight.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
Yet while most wound up being little more than footnotes in the books, Lamborghini managed to build a new mid-engined monster that would prove a successful successor to its forebears on children’s bedroom walls and in rich men’s driveways alike.
—Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 2025
This multihyphenate job description instantly puts Sennott under the same spotlight as her forebears Lena Dunham and Issa Rae, women who were also given the golden ticket of a series on TV’s most prestigious platform at a strikingly young age.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 30 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forebears
Noun
-
Nor can Brownfield vote in Squaxin elections, or harvest clams on the Salish Sea beaches where her ancestors did so for generations.—
David Treuer,
The Atlantic,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The biologists believe that early monitor lizards, including the ancestors of Australian monitors known as goannas, originally lost their osteoderms because an active, pursuit-hunting lifestyle favored speed and agility over heavy body armor.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Their twins—John and William, named for their grandfathers—were lost.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Nov. 2025
-
In his latest partnership with Ancestry as part of the organization’s Thank You for Your Service campaign, Bass got to learn even more about both of his grandfathers’ service in the war.—
Stephen Daw,
Billboard,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Bands like Bikini Kill and Bratmobile aimed wrathful lyrics and gallows humor at a culture of misogyny that plagued their daily lives, from condescending male musicians to abusive fathers.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
14 Jan. 2026
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Prosecutors would not comment on what type of abuse the 6-year-old girl suffered, but according to Bartlett, both Kina and a fourth child are currently in the custody of their fathers.—
Muri Assunção,
New York Daily News,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Forebears.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forebears. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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