28
predecessor(noun, kin, someone, something, precede)
19
ancestor(noun, kin, precede, precursor, predecessor)
19
precursor(noun, origin, descent, something, background)
15
progenitor(noun, origin, kin, descent, background)
13
forefather(noun, origin, kin, descent, background)
12
forerunner(noun, origin, descent, background, precursor)
11
father(noun, kin, precede, paternity)
11
primogenitor(noun, origin, descent, background, antecedent)
10
parent(noun, kin, precede, paternity, forefather)
9
antecedent(noun, origin, kin, descent, background)
9
sire(noun, paternity, forefather)
8
founder(noun, precursor, antecedent, paternity, forefather)
7
ascendant(noun, kin, precede, antecedent, forefather)
6
forbear
6
harbinger(noun, precursor)
4
grandfather
4
stock
4
trailblazer(noun, precursor)
3
antecessor(noun, origin, descent, background, precursor)
3
avant-garde(noun, precursor)
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APASmart Define. (2016). forebear thesaurus. Retrieved September 20, 2026, from https://smartdefine.org/forebear/thesaurus/synonyms
ChicagoSmart Define. 2016. "forebear thesaurus" https://smartdefine.org/forebear/thesaurus/synonyms (accessed September 20, 2026).
HarvardSmart Define 2016, forebear thesaurus, Smart Define, viewed 20 September, 2026, <https://smartdefine.org/forebear/thesaurus/synonyms>.
MLASmart Define. "forebear thesaurus" 2 March 2016. Web. 20 September 2026. <https://smartdefine.org/forebear/thesaurus/synonyms>