PREDECESSOR Synonyms: 25 Similar and Opposite Words

predecessor

noun

ˈpre-də-ˌse-sər

Definition of predecessor

as in forerunner

something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed the once-ubiquitous typewriter was the predecessor of today's electronic keyboard

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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 predecessor Maduro and his predecessor Hugo Chávez heavily cracked down on political dissent. — Chad De Guzman, Time, 23 Oct. 2026 Governor Spanberger, a Democrat, is building on the groundwork laid by her Republican predecessor, Glenn Youngkin, rather than tearing it up. — Neil Chatterjee, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026 Once The New Stanford Prison Experiment proves the same lesson as its predecessor, what else is there? — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026 Finally, Season 3 received eight Emmy nominations, more than both its predecessors combined. — Alison Herman, Variety, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for predecessor

Recent Examples of Synonyms for predecessor

Noun

Koslow’s screen career began in 1976 as the writer of the film Lifeguard, a ’70s-era Baywatch forerunner starring a hunky Sam Elliott and Anne Archer.

— Tom Tapp, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2026
Rather than try to replicate his forerunners’ styles of success, Ternus has so far played to his own strengths—which are also those of Apple, a company that first and foremost builds beautiful products that spark productivity, creativity, and joy.

— Andrew R. Chow, Time, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of forerunner

Noun

The three have also introduced tax plans that could be precursors to 2028 platforms.

— Jared Ochacher, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
Perhaps the clearest precursor to the complicated racial dynamics of deepfake memes is what happened on TikTok at the turn of the decade.

— Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of precursor

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predeceasing

predecessor

predecessors

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“Predecessor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/predecessor. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of predecessor

noun

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