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
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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
Michaels called his final and record-tying 11th Super Bowl and was replaced by Mike Tirico on NBC, while the granddaddy contract of them all, Tom Brady’s $375 million monster, was inked.
—
Andrew Marchand,
New York Times,
26 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
Michaels called his final and record-tying 11th Super Bowl and was replaced by Mike Tirico on NBC, while the granddaddy contract of them all, Tom Brady’s $375 million monster, was inked.
—
Andrew Marchand,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for granddaddy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for granddaddy
Noun
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The city had a history of assimilating such yearners, most notably Madonna, Swift’s forerunner and her own Middle American transplant success story.
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The group, which includes Chrysler, Fiat, Peugeot and Citroen, is becoming a forerunner in the promising progress of a new type of vehicle battery.
Noun
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Kean comes from a long line of public servants, stretching 250 years to the country’s founding when one of his ancestors became New Jersey’s first leader since independence.
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One of these is likely the evolutionary ancestor of all that is to come.
Noun
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Those resolutions are considered a precursor to the Declaration of Independence.
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Feeding peanuts to the fans evolved, but the early days, whether for the precursor to Aramark or the work of Stevens, were all about a few simple items.
Cite this Entry
“Granddaddy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/granddaddy. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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