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.
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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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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
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Cite this Entry
“Progenitor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/progenitor. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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