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
From the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s, professional photographer Steven Sebring followed the poet-singer-punk progenitor across time and space, then rearranged the pieces into an impressionistic collage.
—
Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 26 Dec. 2024
More often than not, the internet has been the progenitor of movements, changes, and trends in the real, physical world.
—Makena Kelly, WIRED, 19 Dec. 2024
One of the oldest progenitors of the style, the eatery was founded by Patsy Lancieri in 1933, and later begat other New York icons like Grimaldi’s and helped spawn a New York pizza renaissance that’s still very much alive.
—Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for progenitor 
Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 26 Dec. 2024
More often than not, the internet has been the progenitor of movements, changes, and trends in the real, physical world.
—Makena Kelly, WIRED, 19 Dec. 2024
One of the oldest progenitors of the style, the eatery was founded by Patsy Lancieri in 1933, and later begat other New York icons like Grimaldi’s and helped spawn a New York pizza renaissance that’s still very much alive.
—Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for progenitor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for progenitor
Noun
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However, many oral histories passed down in indigenous groups in Canada and the U.S. have contradicted this idea, suggesting that smaller groups made the journey over different periods of time and their ancestors told the tales of a great crossing, VOA News reports.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
10 Feb. 2025
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The driving force for the tour guides is the idea that Black Americans and Muslims must unapologetically tell their own story, an experience that so many of their ancestors were robbed of due to slavery.—
Ahmed Ali Akbar,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The local carry-out spot, now run by third-generation owner Jermaine Blackmon, was originally opened in 1952 by his grandfather.—
Chyna Blackmon,
Charlotte Observer,
18 Feb. 2025
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Trump, whose grandfather is President Donald Trump, played during the weekend tournament, while Woods opted to not participate competitively after recently losing his mother.—
Mikelle Street,
WWD,
18 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The boy’s father, Nicolas Barcet, is accused of chasing his son around their home in St. Petersburg, then binding the boy from his shoulders to his feet and leaving him alone in his room, according an arrest affidavit obtained by the Daily News.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
14 Feb. 2025
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Jojo Gonzalez is endearing and funny as Kisa’s grieving father, Isamu (as well as Isamu’s no-nonsense brother).—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near progenitor
Cite this Entry
“Progenitor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/progenitor. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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