Synonyms for progenitor
Most common
All synonyms
Noun
1. Ancestor — A forefather, any of a person's direct ancestors
ancestor, forefather, precursor, father, predecessor, antecedent, foregoer, forerunner
Other
Definitions
- n. 1
A forefather, any of a person's direct ancestors.
Related words
- Word family
- progenitorial progenitive progeny
Forms
- Plural
- progenitors → ancestors, forefathers, precursors, fathers…
Example sentences
- predecessor His background parallels that of his predecessor.
- ancestor Tom's ancestor was a member of a blacksmiths' guild.
- precursor Domestic corn's wild precursor was teosinte.
- forefather Abraham was correct and the forefather of many.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| progenitor | rising | |
| predecessor | steady | |
| ancestor | rising | |
| precursor | rising | |
| forefather | rising | |
| primogenitor | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 6 letters
- father2, parent2
- 8 letters
- ancestor3, foregoer
- 9 letters
- precursor3
- 10 letters
- forerunner3, antecedent4, forefather3
- 11 letters
- predecessor4
- 12 letters
- primogenitor
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (father2 = 2 syllables).