variants
also descendent
as in weeping
bending downward or forward
the descendant branches of a weeping willow
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
also descendent
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of descendant
John Tuohy, IndyStar, 14 Aug. 2025
Named after Andro Lamb, a descendant of the merchant who welcomed Mary, Queen of Scots, to Leith in 1561, the building originally contained six shops on the ground floor with apartments above, catering to Edinburgh’s elite traders.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 13 Aug. 2025
Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 10 Aug. 2024
Oliver Origin: German, French Meaning: Olive tree, ancestors descendant
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Olivier (French)
Famous Namesakes: Actor Oliver Hudson, athlete Oliver Kahn
Peak Popularity: Oliver jumped to the #3 most popular boy name in 2019 and has remained since.
—Casey Clark, Parents, 30 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for descendant
Adjective
The house, built in 1823, was sold by his descendant in 1871 but was mostly neglected until 1934 when Eli Lilly bought it.
—John Tuohy, IndyStar, 14 Aug. 2025
Named after Andro Lamb, a descendant of the merchant who welcomed Mary, Queen of Scots, to Leith in 1561, the building originally contained six shops on the ground floor with apartments above, catering to Edinburgh’s elite traders.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
According to data presented at the May 2 meeting, the program has paid more than $4.8 million to 193 recipients across the ancestor and descendant categories.
—Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 10 Aug. 2024
Oliver Origin: German, French Meaning: Olive tree, ancestors descendant
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Olivier (French)
Famous Namesakes: Actor Oliver Hudson, athlete Oliver Kahn
Peak Popularity: Oliver jumped to the #3 most popular boy name in 2019 and has remained since.
—Casey Clark, Parents, 30 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for descendant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for descendant
Adjective
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And every day, across from them, outside the clinic, about to enter or just leaving, there were women hugging each other and weeping.—
David Mamet,
National Review,
11 Aug. 2022
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The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.—
Helen Shaw,
Vulture,
8 Dec. 2021
Noun
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Although some analysts have suggested Starmer may quietly be pleased with the resignation of his main rival and potential successor, the toppling of Rayner caps off what has been a dreadful summer for Labour, in which the party has lost more ground in the polls to the insurgent Reform UK.—
Max Foster,
CNN Money,
5 Sep. 2025
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The legislation would terminate the current attorney general’s term on the day the bill is signed into law, and his successor would not need Senate confirmation.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Fans got a glimpse at the duo's to-wear-or-not-to-wear banter on Instagram when the Padma's All American author attempted to police her offspring's low-rise jeans by finding any solution to keep them hung on her hips.—
Michelle Lee,
People.com,
1 Sep. 2025
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The resulting hybrid offspring won’t resemble their parent plants, so saving seeds for next year won’t be possible.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
31 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Tems, Tyla, and Amaarae are also, in many ways, of her progeny, too.—
Mankaprr Conteh,
Rolling Stone,
28 Aug. 2025
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Police violence robbed Eleanor’s progeny of experiencing the often special relationship between grandmothers and grandchildren.—
LaShawn Harris
August 27,
Literary Hub,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
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David Steinhafel, managing partner of S5 Equity, is a fourth-generation scion of the nearly century-old furniture retailer, which opened its first Chicago-area Steinhafels store in 2011.—
Robert Channick,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Aug. 2025
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So does Muppet scion Lisa Henson.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Of the other methods – including electrocution, lethal gas and hanging – lethal injection had the highest botch rate of more than 7%. ‘An embrace of brutality’ Still, states have remained averse to the firing squad, a position that experts who spoke to CNN believe stems from its overt violence.—
Dakin Andone,
CNN Money,
10 Apr. 2025
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The neutral material keeps it from looking like an eye sore and can be expanded for more hanging space as needed.—
Micaela Arnett,
Rolling Stone,
10 Jan. 2024
Noun
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Safe to use around children and pets, the faux flames come with a remote control function, automatic timers, and a 150-hour battery life.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Sep. 2025
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Each child will have the chance to meet and take photos with their favorite princesses during a special meet-and-greet.—
Tiffani Jackson Skinner,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Descendant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descendant. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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