as in ancestor
a person who is several generations earlier in an individual's line of descent
the progenitors of today's Maya once ruled a mighty empire that stretched across much of Central America
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Recent Examples of progenitor
For all its modern flourishes, Delta is hindered by slavishly adhering to the core gameplay of its 2004 progenitor.
—
Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 22 Aug. 2025
By using specific blood cells known as endothelial progenitor cells, or EPCs, Colossal was able to identify and reprogram cells much easier.
—Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
African-American bluegrass guitarist Arnold Schultz was a Kentuckian whose credits include offering bluegrass progenitor Bill Monroe one of his first paying jobs as a musician, playing together at square dances.
—Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 16 July 2025
Hard rock progenitors Led Zeppelin had the top music documentary in the first half of the year with Becoming Led Zeppelin, which Luminate said helped drive a 23 percent bump in their streaming numbers.
—Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for progenitor
Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 22 Aug. 2025
By using specific blood cells known as endothelial progenitor cells, or EPCs, Colossal was able to identify and reprogram cells much easier.
—Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
African-American bluegrass guitarist Arnold Schultz was a Kentuckian whose credits include offering bluegrass progenitor Bill Monroe one of his first paying jobs as a musician, playing together at square dances.
—Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 16 July 2025
Hard rock progenitors Led Zeppelin had the top music documentary in the first half of the year with Becoming Led Zeppelin, which Luminate said helped drive a 23 percent bump in their streaming numbers.
—Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for progenitor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for progenitor
Noun
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The norm is for ancient dugouts found in southern Florida to be linked to ancestors of the Calusa, the Seminole or the Miccosukee, according to the Florida Division of Historical Resources.—
Mark Price,
Miami Herald,
15 Sep. 2025
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This provides excellent evidence that all life on Earth shares one common ancestor.—
Thomas Moynihan,
Big Think,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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La Luz del Mundo was founded by Joaquin's grandfather, Eusebio Joaquin Gonzalez, in 1926 and was later led by Joaquin's father, Samuel Joaquin Flores.—
Luc Cohen,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
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This is not your father’s or grandfather’s Atherton High School football program, and never was that more evident than Tuesday’s practice at the school.—
Rich Barak,
Louisville Courier Journal,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Celebrating the assassination of a 31 year old father of two young kids is disturbing; that teachers would be among those who do so is completely unacceptable.—
Amy DeLaura,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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His father, a hard-working Russian immigrant and patriotic US bomber pilot, taught him to respect authority.—
Martine Paris,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Progenitor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/progenitor. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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