variants
also grandaddy
as in ancestor
something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed
the granddaddy of all English mystery novels
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of granddaddy
First came Kodak, the granddaddy of them all, founded in Rochester, New York, in 1892.
—
Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
The granddaddy of the city’s culinary scene isn’t some starchy, white-tablecloth restaurant, though.
—Brandon Griggs, CNN Money, 10 May 2025
Then there’s the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the granddaddy of the major indices.
—Moneyshow, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Now, there is (to our knowledge) no official record — there is certainly no official method for timing applause — but it’s roundly considered that Guillermo del Toro’s 2006 fantasy drama Pan’s Labyrinth is the granddaddy of them all at 22 minutes.
—Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for granddaddy
Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
The granddaddy of the city’s culinary scene isn’t some starchy, white-tablecloth restaurant, though.
—Brandon Griggs, CNN Money, 10 May 2025
Then there’s the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the granddaddy of the major indices.
—Moneyshow, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Now, there is (to our knowledge) no official record — there is certainly no official method for timing applause — but it’s roundly considered that Guillermo del Toro’s 2006 fantasy drama Pan’s Labyrinth is the granddaddy of them all at 22 minutes.
—Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for granddaddy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for granddaddy
Noun
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Our harsh winters and gorgeous summers reminded our ancestors of home.—
Jess Fleming,
Twin Cities,
3 Aug. 2025
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The small, rugged truck crossed over into civilian use and is the ancestor of the off-road vehicles and SUVs that patrol suburbs and ferry kids to the frontlines of soccer games.—
Tom Vanden Brook,
USA Today,
2 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Previously Fefferman was a key player at Radius, the indie-film company co-founded by Tom Quinn that was a forerunner to his highly successful banner Neon.—
Ethan Millman,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Aug. 2025
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Lehrer was the forerunner of musical comedians like Weird Al Yankovic, Rachel Bloom, and the Lonely Island.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
28 July 2025
Noun
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Despite these challenges, Art SG and its predecessors have drawn attention to Singapore’s efforts to cultivate a vibrant art scene.—
Y-Jean Mun-Delsalle,
Forbes.com,
19 Aug. 2025
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Something his predecessors, Ashanti Hamilton, Arnitta Holliman, Reggie Moore, and Terry Perry, had to do as well since the office was founded in 2008.—
Drake Bentley,
jsonline.com,
19 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Granddaddy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/granddaddy. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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