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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of forebears
Historians say American innovations in medicine, science and technology today are being driven by the same can-do attitude that prompted their forebears to travel the trail.
—
Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
The sheetmetal was inspired by the brand’s freshest design language, giving it a sleeker and more aggressive design than any of its forebears.
—Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 30 Oct. 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
Like their forebears in a bygone era of Republican politics, their beliefs are defined by faith in free markets and suspicion of government meddling in society.
—David M. Drucker, Twin Cities, 19 Oct. 2025
The guidance my forebears left me is a map.
—Essence, 10 Oct. 2025
The book is dense with literary references but Harpman constantly makes fun of her forebears.
—Mj Franklin, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
For someone like Eli, then, projecting movie-star-like virility and vigor was an exercise in social advancement, in distancing himself from his babushka forebears’ grim reality.
—David Kamp, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2025
Our forebears turned orchards into neighborhoods that welcomed us.
—Belal Aftab, Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2025
Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
The sheetmetal was inspired by the brand’s freshest design language, giving it a sleeker and more aggressive design than any of its forebears.
—Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 30 Oct. 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
Like their forebears in a bygone era of Republican politics, their beliefs are defined by faith in free markets and suspicion of government meddling in society.
—David M. Drucker, Twin Cities, 19 Oct. 2025
The guidance my forebears left me is a map.
—Essence, 10 Oct. 2025
The book is dense with literary references but Harpman constantly makes fun of her forebears.
—Mj Franklin, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
For someone like Eli, then, projecting movie-star-like virility and vigor was an exercise in social advancement, in distancing himself from his babushka forebears’ grim reality.
—David Kamp, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2025
Our forebears turned orchards into neighborhoods that welcomed us.
—Belal Aftab, Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forebears
Noun
-
Her ancestors were from Russia, who later fled to Ukraine and settled in Philadelphia.—
Colleen Kratofil,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
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The idea was to go back to the basic foods that their ancestors ate.—
Chrystle Fiedler,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
This is the legacy of our fathers and grandfathers.—
Jane Arraf,
NPR,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Smith and Christian’s respective grandfathers were their catalysts into vintage fashion.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
In fact, some famous fathers have doubled that average age, becoming dads past the age of 65.—
Sari Hitchins,
Parents,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Husbands and fathers were supposed to meet their major needs for food, shelter, and clothing.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Forebears.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forebears. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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