variants
also forbear
as in ancestor
a person who is several generations earlier in an individual's line of descent
his forebears came to America on the Mayflower
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 forebear
Once upon a time, scholars thought that human evolution was a march of progress in which our forebears evolved in linear fashion from an apelike ancestor to a series of increasingly humanlike forms.
—
Kate Wong, Scientific American, 13 Aug. 2025
The farmhouse where generations of Henry’s forebears grew up would be untouched.
—Meena Duerson, CNN Money, 24 July 2025
Still, a modern 911 resembles its forebears not just in its silhouette, but in its purpose.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 11 July 2025
The two features are, if a little lacking in visual stimulation compared with their forebears, reliably entertaining.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for forebear
Kate Wong, Scientific American, 13 Aug. 2025
The farmhouse where generations of Henry’s forebears grew up would be untouched.
—Meena Duerson, CNN Money, 24 July 2025
Still, a modern 911 resembles its forebears not just in its silhouette, but in its purpose.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 11 July 2025
The two features are, if a little lacking in visual stimulation compared with their forebears, reliably entertaining.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for forebear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forebear
Noun
-
Demosponges are soft and squishy filter feeders and their ancestors likely shared similar characteristics.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Where Lil Boosie and Kevin Gates are hometown heroes, two artists who are direct ancestors for YoungBoy’s style, YoungBoy is more notorious, fodder for the gossip shows and the minor podcasts that infiltrate their way onto your timeline.—
Jayson Buford,
Rolling Stone,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
When Usagi is approached by Ryuji (Kento Kaku), an academic obsessed with discovering the secrets of the afterlife, she is lured back into Borderland by the chance to see her father one more time.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Carolyn Smith, the late preacher’s daughter, said her father — like Pendleton a Knoxville College graduate — was instrumental in recruiting Pendleton and other Black educators to teach in San Diego.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The oak tree, which his grandfather watched grow, was an important fixture in Taylor's own childhood.—
Sam Gillette,
PEOPLE,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Her background is in conservation, marine biology and ecology, following in the footsteps of her grandfather, John McConnell, founder and creator of Earth Day.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Forebear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forebear. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share