as in father
a person who is several generations earlier in an individual's line of descent
this tradition has been passed down from our pioneer grandfathers
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Recent Examples of grandfather
His grandfather, Mario Pettoello, was born in Basiliano, Italy.
—
Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
My grandfather was a pastor, my mother directed the choir.
—Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2026
Paloma Quatrini's grandfather, a physician, immediately realized the injury was serious.
—Meghan Schiller, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026
This had caused great dismay for my grandparents—my grandfather in particular.
—Han Ong, New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grandfather
Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
My grandfather was a pastor, my mother directed the choir.
—Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2026
Paloma Quatrini's grandfather, a physician, immediately realized the injury was serious.
—Meghan Schiller, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026
This had caused great dismay for my grandparents—my grandfather in particular.
—Han Ong, New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grandfather
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grandfather
Noun
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Decisions are made for him by his father (iconic horror director David Cronenberg) and his sister.—
Stephen Schaefer,
Boston Herald,
19 Mar. 2026
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The younger Khamenei has not made a public appearance since his father was killed in the war's opening salvos during which he reportedly was also wounded.—
DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS,
Arkansas Online,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Local historians in Wyandotte County have long documented the arduous journeys that their ancestors, and those of many Kansas City, Kansas residents, made to find freedom from slavery.—
Sofi Zeman,
Kansas City Star,
15 Mar. 2026
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The last universal common ancestor of all life on Earth, known as LUCA, is embedded in every being’s genes.—
Emma Gometz,
Scientific American,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grandfather.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grandfather. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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