Synonyms for forefather
Most common
All synonyms
Noun
1. Ancestor
ancestor, father, progenitor, patriarch, predecessor, antecedent, sire, ascendant
Other
Definitions
- n. 1
An ancestor.
Forms
- Plural
- forefathers → ancestors, fathers, progenitors, patriarchs…
Example sentences
- predecessor His background parallels that of his predecessor.
- ancestor Tom's ancestor was a member of a blacksmiths' guild.
- patriarch Ziri is our family's patriarch.
- progenitor The progenitor of the human race was named Tom.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| forefather | rising | |
| predecessor | steady | |
| ancestor | rising | |
| patriarch | rising | |
| progenitor | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- sire2
- 6 letters
- father2
- 8 letters
- ancestor3
- 9 letters
- patriarch3, ascendant3
- 10 letters
- progenitor4, antecedent4, longfather
- 11 letters
- predecessor4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (sire2 = 2 syllables).