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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of forebears
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
Generations of Irish schoolchildren studied the language of their forebears.
—Big Think, 4 May 2026
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
Though not as breathtakingly palatial as its forebears in Hong Kong (the first-born) and Manila (the second), this third child is nonetheless manor-like, quietly confident, and a total oasis.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
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
Generations of Irish schoolchildren studied the language of their forebears.
—Big Think, 4 May 2026
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
Though not as breathtakingly palatial as its forebears in Hong Kong (the first-born) and Manila (the second), this third child is nonetheless manor-like, quietly confident, and a total oasis.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forebears
Noun
-
Velociraptors and microraptors were not birds, but they were closely related to ancestors of the earliest birds, such as Archaeopteryx.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
-
The behavior may be inherited from wild ancestors Why dogs like grass in the first place is harder to answer.—
Niranjana Rajalakshmi,
Popular Science,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Opponents hope to negotiate a compromise that grandfathers in existing applicants.—
Joe Rubin,
Sacbee.com,
31 May 2026
-
Homer is named after both of his grandfathers—Homer Gere and James Lowell—while his third name comes from Gere’s Buddhist background.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
And yet, the complex plot comes down to the bond between Albus and Scorpius, who are living in their fathers’ shadows, bullied and uncertain of themselves, as their connections with their dads falter.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
4 June 2026
-
While some riders prioritize adventure, many fathers simply want a reliable and comfortable way to travel around town.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Forebears.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forebears. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
