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
Among the astronomers, it is generally believed that these nuclei are the fragments released from a common progenitor.
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Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
And while Luft had numerous examples of the progenitor for Porsche displayed throughout the sprawling exhibition space, a 356B Cabriolet drew some of the biggest crowds, not only for its distinctive styling but for its A-list owner.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 7 Oct. 2024
The progenitor of party culture, no one did it better than Puff Daddy back in the day.
—Amy Dubois Barnett, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Oct. 2024
Compared to later Cobras, on paper the progenitor might seem too primitive to actually enjoy on a drive while surrounded by modern vehicles.
—Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for progenitor 
Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
And while Luft had numerous examples of the progenitor for Porsche displayed throughout the sprawling exhibition space, a 356B Cabriolet drew some of the biggest crowds, not only for its distinctive styling but for its A-list owner.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 7 Oct. 2024
The progenitor of party culture, no one did it better than Puff Daddy back in the day.
—Amy Dubois Barnett, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Oct. 2024
Compared to later Cobras, on paper the progenitor might seem too primitive to actually enjoy on a drive while surrounded by modern vehicles.
—Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for progenitor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for progenitor
Noun
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Now, Hall is helping safeguard the legacy of his ancestors—and redefining generational wealth in the process.Sofia Perez, Saveur, 21 Nov. 2024
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Fleshing out the ensemble cast of characters are Keiran Atreides (Chris Mason), an ancestor of Paul Atreides; the emperor's wife Natalya (Jodhi May); and Desmond Hart (Travis Fimmel), a mysterious soldier with a shocking revelation about a trip to Arrakis.Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY, 15 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Forced to flee their native Nicaragua, GORDO’s grandfather, a pilot, took a daring leap into the unknown.Mandeep Rai, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024
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The carvings displayed were made by my then husband’s grandfather.Camille Freestone, Architectural Digest, 29 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Brown's father told the media outlet his son's donation saved four lives.Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY, 29 Nov. 2024
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Robert is a conservationist and zookeeper just like his father, who was killed by a stingray at age 44 when Robert was just 2 years old in 2006.Rachel DeSantis, People.com, 28 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near progenitor
Cite this Entry
“Progenitor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/progenitor. Accessed 9 Dec. 2024.
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