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
The two Metroidvania progenitors — 1986’s Metroid and 1987’s Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest — cultivated a sense of geographical bewilderment by letting players unfurl the secrets of their arcane worlds in any direction along the X and Y axes.
—
Lewis Gordon, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
That series’ progenitor, Twin Peaks (1990-92) — also co-written with Frost — was the first network series to be organized around one character’s death and a community’s response to it.
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 16 Jan. 2025
Each foot represents a year in the life of Joseph Smith Jr., the progenitor, prophet and president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who was born on that humble spot on December 23, 1805.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Dec. 2024
This evidence for the presence of liquid water on the ancient body from which Bennu formed provides a tantalizing possibility: the possibility that Bennu’s progenitor may have seen the first stirrings of life.
—Tom Hawking, Popular Science, 29 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for progenitor
Lewis Gordon, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
That series’ progenitor, Twin Peaks (1990-92) — also co-written with Frost — was the first network series to be organized around one character’s death and a community’s response to it.
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 16 Jan. 2025
Each foot represents a year in the life of Joseph Smith Jr., the progenitor, prophet and president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who was born on that humble spot on December 23, 1805.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Dec. 2024
This evidence for the presence of liquid water on the ancient body from which Bennu formed provides a tantalizing possibility: the possibility that Bennu’s progenitor may have seen the first stirrings of life.
—Tom Hawking, Popular Science, 29 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for progenitor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for progenitor
Noun
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The ancestors of tens of millions of Americans left miserable lives in Ireland for initially difficult ones here.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
29 Mar. 2025
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Jackson was captivated by the use of water as a symbol of freedom and hope for her ancestors in the lyrics of the spirituals.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
26 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Robyn, 11, and Chuck, 8, had just been picked up early from Camp Timber Lake by their uncle Jim Peel and grandfather Bryan McArthur.—
Tony Holt,
Arkansas Online,
7 Apr. 2025
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The emotions were unavoidable on Saturday for Ian Happ, who got a standing ovation for his 1,000th game as a Cub, as well as Matthew Boyd, who got choked up after winning his first start at Wrigley Field in a Cubs uniform, thinking of his late grandfather, a Cubs fan who grew up in Chicago.—
Patrick Mooney,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The podcast itself is very emotional in terms of coming to terms with who her father is, and also sitting down with the family members of her father’s victims.—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Apr. 2025
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Still, Hemme took solace in being present for her father’s final days.—
Katie Moore,
Kansas City Star,
3 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Progenitor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/progenitor. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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