variants
also grandaddy
as in forerunner
something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed
the granddaddy of all English mystery novels
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of granddaddy
Yet now the granddaddy of philanthropic sporting events is being replaced by a sport actually popularized by granddaddies — pickleball.
—
Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Apr. 2026
The Mimslyn Inn, a member of the Historic Hotels of America, is the granddaddy of all Luray lodging.
—Erica Silverstein, Travel + Leisure, 16 Mar. 2026
But some years, the granddaddy of all entertainment awards shows has had a distinctly Bay Area resonance.
—Culture Critic, San Francisco Chronicle, 13 Mar. 2026
Every year since 2003, the umbrella organization for quizzing outfits around the globe has put on the granddaddy of knowledge competitions.
—Drew Goins, The Atlantic, 2 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for granddaddy
Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Apr. 2026
The Mimslyn Inn, a member of the Historic Hotels of America, is the granddaddy of all Luray lodging.
—Erica Silverstein, Travel + Leisure, 16 Mar. 2026
But some years, the granddaddy of all entertainment awards shows has had a distinctly Bay Area resonance.
—Culture Critic, San Francisco Chronicle, 13 Mar. 2026
Every year since 2003, the umbrella organization for quizzing outfits around the globe has put on the granddaddy of knowledge competitions.
—Drew Goins, The Atlantic, 2 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for granddaddy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for granddaddy
Noun
-
The group, which includes Chrysler, Fiat, Peugeot and Citroen, is becoming a forerunner in the promising progress of a new type of vehicle battery.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
15 June 2026
-
In 2007, the Oatley family opened Qualia, their 30-acre flagship property and the forerunner of Australia’s luxury lodges.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
For our hunter-gatherer ancestors, getting enough of these critical nutrients was a daily life-and-death struggle.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
-
The acreage had been owned by Ruth Moore’s ancestors, the Toof family, who named it Graceland.—
Elizabeth Stamp,
Architectural Digest,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
Earth-impacting shrapnel from those primordial upheavals may have helped seed our planet with the precursors for life, delivering water and organic compounds from the dark, icy depths of the outer solar system.—
Lee Billings,
Scientific American,
18 June 2026
-
Scouts and Raiders is billed as telling the true origin story of the WWII commando unit of the same name, a precursor to the Navy SEALs, including its heavy recruitment of collegiate and professional football players.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Granddaddy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/granddaddy. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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