ANCESTOR Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words

ancestor

noun

ˈan-ˌse-stər

Definition of ancestor

as in grandfather

a person who is several generations earlier in an individual's line of descent Bridie's Irish ancestors immigrated to the United States in the 19th century during the Great Potato Famine

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in forerunner

something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed pinball machines—the ancestors of today's video games—go back to the 19th century

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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 ancestor California is returning a stretch of rugged Mendocino County coast to the Indigenous nations whose ancestors once stewarded its shores. — Alex Wigglesworth Los Angeles Times, Arkansas Online, 5 July 2026 California is returning a stretch of rugged Mendocino County coast to the Indigenous nations whose ancestors once stewarded its shores. — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026 There’s the Basque population in Boise, Idaho, whose ancestors traded a mountainous region between France and Spain for the American West in the hopes of finding gold but later turned to sheep herding. — Albert Sun, New York Times, 2 July 2026 Hingham is the birthplace of Major General Benjamin Lincoln — George Washington’s second-in-command, who famously accepted the British surrender at Yorktown — and home to the direct ancestors of Abraham Lincoln. — Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for ancestor

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ancestor

Noun

In 1926, Brian's great-grandfather, Henry Knoebel, opened a pool that would mark the official start of the family’s park.

— Eve Chen, USA Today, 3 July 2026
The supplies will be taken to Miami and then Venezuela by Olarte Transport, said volunteer Andrea Casanova, 28, whose grandfather was in Venezuela when the earthquakes struck.

— Melody Xu, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026

Definition of grandfather

Noun

The city had a history of assimilating such yearners, most notably Madonna, Swift’s forerunner and her own Middle American transplant success story.

— Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 3 July 2026
The group, which includes Chrysler, Fiat, Peugeot and Citroen, is becoming a forerunner in the promising progress of a new type of vehicle battery.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 June 2026

Definition of forerunner

Noun

His passion for politics began at a young age and stemmed from his father who served in the Army and imparted values about duty and service.

— Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 8 July 2026
He is believed to be in hiding after reportedly being wounded in the airstrike that killed his father.

— Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026

Definition of father

Noun

Those resolutions are considered a precursor to the Declaration of Independence.

— Salena Zito, Washington Post, 1 July 2026
Feeding peanuts to the fans evolved, but the early days, whether for the precursor to Aramark or the work of Stevens, were all about a few simple items.

— Tim Newcomb, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

Definition of precursor

Noun

Vahidi, who assumed the role after his predecessor Mohammad Pakpour was killed in US-Israeli strikes on the first day of the war, is rarely seen in public.

— Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
The elaborate funeral of his predecessor, Ruhollah Khomeini, was also orchestrated to demonstrate leadership continuity in 1989.

— Rebecca Schneid, Time, 5 July 2026

Definition of predecessor

Noun

Refine a portfolio piece, build a small prototype, or share a draft with someone who gives honest notes.

— Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 5 July 2026
Sketches were drawn, 3D masks printed and footballs blasted at a prototype sitting on a lifesize headform modelled on Kylian Mbappe’s face.

— Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 5 July 2026

Definition of prototype

Browse Nearby Words

anatomy

ancestor

ancestors

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“Ancestor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ancestor. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of ancestor

noun

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