as in ancestor
a person who is several generations earlier in an individual's line of descent
villagers who still practice many of the customs of their forebearers
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Recent Examples of forebearer
Like its classic-rock forebearer Desert Trip, the concert will bring two acts per night to Indio’s Empire Polo Club, on the weekend of Oct. 6-8.
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August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2023
After leaving Alabama, Avinger served a year in the U.S. Army, then signed for a season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Western Interprovincial Football Union, one of the forebearers of the Canadian Football League.
—Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, 17 Apr. 2023
Growing population size would have affected our forebearers another way, too: by accelerating the pace of evolution.
—Rachel Caspari, Scientific American, 1 Nov. 2012
Based on the analysis the team built a virtual model of what this land-dwelling forebearer to flying insects looked like.
—Roni Dengler, Discover Magazine, 15 Jan. 2019
Mike Brown said the digital driver license is the forebearer of discriminating against the unvaccinated.
—Bryan Schott, The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 Feb. 2022
If successful, The Mayflower Autonomous Ship, named in honor of its famous nautical forebearer and known as MAS for short, will be the first such trans-Atlantic voyage by an autonomous vessel.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 27 Nov. 2021
Quaker Oats retired Aunt Jemima, allowing her real-life forebearer, Nancy Green, to step out of the shadows of a minstrel past.
—Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2020
Chickamauga is two lakes upstream from Guntersville and other TVA lakes in Alabama, which likely means the fish or their forebearers passed through Alabama waters and that lots of them could still be there.
—Frank Sargeant, al, 22 Jan. 2020
August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2023
After leaving Alabama, Avinger served a year in the U.S. Army, then signed for a season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Western Interprovincial Football Union, one of the forebearers of the Canadian Football League.
—Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, 17 Apr. 2023
Growing population size would have affected our forebearers another way, too: by accelerating the pace of evolution.
—Rachel Caspari, Scientific American, 1 Nov. 2012
Based on the analysis the team built a virtual model of what this land-dwelling forebearer to flying insects looked like.
—Roni Dengler, Discover Magazine, 15 Jan. 2019
Mike Brown said the digital driver license is the forebearer of discriminating against the unvaccinated.
—Bryan Schott, The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 Feb. 2022
If successful, The Mayflower Autonomous Ship, named in honor of its famous nautical forebearer and known as MAS for short, will be the first such trans-Atlantic voyage by an autonomous vessel.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 27 Nov. 2021
Quaker Oats retired Aunt Jemima, allowing her real-life forebearer, Nancy Green, to step out of the shadows of a minstrel past.
—Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2020
Chickamauga is two lakes upstream from Guntersville and other TVA lakes in Alabama, which likely means the fish or their forebearers passed through Alabama waters and that lots of them could still be there.
—Frank Sargeant, al, 22 Jan. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forebearer
Noun
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Franklin’s immediate ancestors grew up in a world where the fear of witchcraft led to tragic consequences.Michael Sheldrick, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
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An Africa that would leave our ancestors speechless, unable to comprehend the magnitude of our joy and freedom.Laurel Dalrymple, NPR, 18 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Inside of the garage was the 1966 Triumph Tiger Cub motorcycle that his grandfather had left him as a memento.Gavin Feek, Outside Online, 13 Jan. 2025
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In her personal life, Nona is the mother of at least one child, a son named Nolan Pentz, whose middle name is shared with his famous grandfather.Emy LaCroix, People.com, 12 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Janice had moved her young family there after Combs’ father Melvin was murdered in 1972.Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 9 Jan. 2025
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Klint Kubiak, Saints offensive coordinator Stefanski worked with both Kubiak and Kubiak’s father, Gary, in Minnesota.Zac Jackson, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
Articles Related to forebearer
Thesaurus Entries Near forebearer
Cite this Entry
“Forebearer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forebearer. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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