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
This is Cliven, the 77-year-old progenitor of the resistance, father of seven sons and seven daughters, grandfather of 74, great-grandfather of 21.
—
Matt Thompson, SPIN, 5 Nov. 2024
One outstanding question: Is the 2025 affordable Tesla the progenitor of the Cybercab?
—Brooke Crothers, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024
These shows stem from ideological progenitor shows like Last Man Standing, a comedy about a man whose family just can’t (or won’t) live up to his political and cultural expectations.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2024
Burke, a veteran foreign correspondent for The Guardian, traces the intellectual progenitors of the modern ideas of jihad that inspired bin Laden and his followers.
—Hisham Melhem, Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2015
See all Example Sentences for progenitor 
Matt Thompson, SPIN, 5 Nov. 2024
One outstanding question: Is the 2025 affordable Tesla the progenitor of the Cybercab?
—Brooke Crothers, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024
These shows stem from ideological progenitor shows like Last Man Standing, a comedy about a man whose family just can’t (or won’t) live up to his political and cultural expectations.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2024
Burke, a veteran foreign correspondent for The Guardian, traces the intellectual progenitors of the modern ideas of jihad that inspired bin Laden and his followers.
—Hisham Melhem, Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2015
See all Example Sentences for progenitor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for progenitor
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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Patrick Mahomes’ grandfather has entered hospice, the Chiefs MVP quarterback’s mother revealed Friday morning.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
24 Jan. 2025
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Read More: What to Know About Trump’s Order on Birthright Citizenship and the Legal Battle Around It Seventy years ago, my grandfather, Arturo Martinez, left the small town of Buga, Colombia, to pursue a science degree in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.—
Paola Mendoza,
TIME,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The trouble began when the OP reserved a shaded table for her elderly father, who had recently undergone surgery.—
Kristen Waggoner,
Newsweek,
22 Jan. 2025
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His father was found not guilty of malice murder but guilty on the other eight counts.—
Dakin Andone,
CNN,
21 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near progenitor
Cite this Entry
“Progenitor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/progenitor. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
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