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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of progenitor
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
One outstanding question: Is the 2025 affordable Tesla the progenitor of the Cybercab?
—Brooke Crothers, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024
These shows stem from ideological progenitor shows like Last Man Standing, a comedy about a man whose family just can’t (or won’t) live up to his political and cultural expectations.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2024
Burke, a veteran foreign correspondent for The Guardian, traces the intellectual progenitors of the modern ideas of jihad that inspired bin Laden and his followers.
—Hisham Melhem, Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2015
See all Example Sentences for progenitor 
Matt Thompson, SPIN, 5 Nov. 2024
One outstanding question: Is the 2025 affordable Tesla the progenitor of the Cybercab?
—Brooke Crothers, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024
These shows stem from ideological progenitor shows like Last Man Standing, a comedy about a man whose family just can’t (or won’t) live up to his political and cultural expectations.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2024
Burke, a veteran foreign correspondent for The Guardian, traces the intellectual progenitors of the modern ideas of jihad that inspired bin Laden and his followers.
—Hisham Melhem, Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2015
See all Example Sentences for progenitor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for progenitor
Noun
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This year’s theme — A Whole Harvest Dining Experience — will involve meals that use an entire plant, as the ancestors of today’s Black chefs did.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Jan. 2025
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During the Lunar New Year period, families and loved ones gather to eat traditional holiday foods and pay their respects to their ancestors.—
Brett Tingley,
Space.com,
29 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Patrick Mahomes’ grandfather has entered hospice, the Chiefs MVP quarterback’s mother revealed Friday morning.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
24 Jan. 2025
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Kai Trump's social media is skyrocketing after her grandfather's reelection.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The trouble began when the OP reserved a shaded table for her elderly father, who had recently undergone surgery.—
Kristen Waggoner,
Newsweek,
22 Jan. 2025
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Buckley’s father, musician Tim Buckley, died of a heroin overdose when Jeff was 8, and Jeff was raised by his mother, Mary Guibert, who has been the keeper of his archive since his death.—
Rebecca Keegan,
The Hollywood Reporter,
21 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near progenitor
Cite this Entry
“Progenitor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/progenitor. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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