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
Matsumoto went on to develop another SNK stalwart in Art of Fighting, while Nishiyama was put in charge of the progenitor series.
—
Jason Fanelli, Rolling Stone, 24 Apr. 2025
The treatment was derived from human embryonic stem cells, which researchers had coaxed into becoming immature brain cells called neuron progenitors.
—Jon Hamilton, NPR, 17 Apr. 2025
Its progenitor started off in the timber trade around the turn of the 20th century, according to a company profile.
—Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 May 2025
New York is usually considered the antithesis of sprawl and Los Angeles the progenitor of it.
—Conor Dougherty, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for progenitor
Jason Fanelli, Rolling Stone, 24 Apr. 2025
The treatment was derived from human embryonic stem cells, which researchers had coaxed into becoming immature brain cells called neuron progenitors.
—Jon Hamilton, NPR, 17 Apr. 2025
Its progenitor started off in the timber trade around the turn of the 20th century, according to a company profile.
—Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 May 2025
New York is usually considered the antithesis of sprawl and Los Angeles the progenitor of it.
—Conor Dougherty, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for progenitor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for progenitor
Noun
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The gift of 'The Mahabharata' that my ancestors gave me is truly the gift that keeps giving.—
Michael Barnes,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
-
The same ancestor who founded this homestead left his own family behind in Georgia; that cold resolve is Hailey’s inheritance too.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
1 July 2025
Noun
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Visiting a seafood market is an essential part of any trip to Japan, and Tokyo’s Tsukiji Market is the grandfather of them all.—
Jessica Kozuka,
Travel + Leisure,
12 July 2025
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But off to the side, Ricardo Mojica, a tall, silver-haired grandfather, quietly tried to talk to agents to find out what was happening with his son, who worked inside.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 July 2025
Noun
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His father, Scotty Robinson, also had a career in country music for a while, so clearly the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.—
Sid Evans,
Southern Living,
8 July 2025
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Turns out, Yun had fallen in love with Marcello’s father Alfredo (Luca Zingaretti) — a relationship that doesn’t seem to scandalize anyone, not even Marcello’s mom Lorella (Sabrina Ferilli).—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
8 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Progenitor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/progenitor. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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