as in forerunners
something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed
the once-ubiquitous typewriter was the predecessor of today's electronic keyboard
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Recent Examples of predecessors
The namesake cerdito, or piglet, represents his parents and their predecessors, who were farmers and ranchers in Jalisco on the Pacific side of Mexico.
—
Louisa Kung Liu Chu, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
In its approach to listening, World Rhythms marks a subtle but important break with its predecessors.
—Joshua Minsoo Kim, Pitchfork, 28 Apr. 2026
Miron Muslic was appointed in the summer following his acrimonious departure from Plymouth Argyle, and the Bosnian has built an incredibly consistent, tough team that, unlike its predecessors, responds well to adversity.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
In a deviation from standard protocol, that mission's Crew-11 predecessors had departed before the new astronauts' arrival due to an unprecedented medical evacuation.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
One of Olson’s predecessors as Central quarterback, Jake Dolegala, had NFL opportunities with the Bengals, Patriots, Packers and Dolphins in 2019, ’20 and ’21, and has been playing in the CFL the last several years.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 27 Apr. 2026
But while his predecessors focused on expanding China’s sources of oil and gas, Xi has also aimed to reduce China’s reliance on the outside world altogether.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2026
Unlike its staid, variety‑show predecessors, there was no paste‑up scenery, no corny costumes, and no announcers with Oxbridge accents.
—Literary Hub, 21 Apr. 2026
If that doesn’t change, this postseason run will be shorter than that of its predecessors.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 19 Apr. 2026
Louisa Kung Liu Chu, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
In its approach to listening, World Rhythms marks a subtle but important break with its predecessors.
—Joshua Minsoo Kim, Pitchfork, 28 Apr. 2026
Miron Muslic was appointed in the summer following his acrimonious departure from Plymouth Argyle, and the Bosnian has built an incredibly consistent, tough team that, unlike its predecessors, responds well to adversity.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
In a deviation from standard protocol, that mission's Crew-11 predecessors had departed before the new astronauts' arrival due to an unprecedented medical evacuation.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
One of Olson’s predecessors as Central quarterback, Jake Dolegala, had NFL opportunities with the Bengals, Patriots, Packers and Dolphins in 2019, ’20 and ’21, and has been playing in the CFL the last several years.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 27 Apr. 2026
But while his predecessors focused on expanding China’s sources of oil and gas, Xi has also aimed to reduce China’s reliance on the outside world altogether.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2026
Unlike its staid, variety‑show predecessors, there was no paste‑up scenery, no corny costumes, and no announcers with Oxbridge accents.
—Literary Hub, 21 Apr. 2026
If that doesn’t change, this postseason run will be shorter than that of its predecessors.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 19 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for predecessors
Noun
-
Even the Hammurabi Code, a set of laws created by the sixth Babylonian king in approximately 1760 bce, established forerunners of today’s interest rate and minimum wage laws.—
Chris Roush,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The Norwegian ended his season before the Olympics to further recover from a shoulder injury, but attended the finals as one of the forerunners, who test a course shortly before a race starts.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
All of us are here because, over millennia of acts of God and wars and disease, our ancestors trusted the hours.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Regardless of whether plans are rejigged, there will be plenty of pomp and circumstance for Charles, 77, as befitting a state visit of a British king to a country that his ancestors once ruled.—
Yuliya Talmazan,
NBC news,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
So does a significant share of the fertilizer precursors and agricultural imports that Gulf states rely on to feed their populations.—
Tenzin Seldon,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The rise coincides with a recent crackdown by the Chinese government on the sale of precursors used to make fentanyl.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Predecessors.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/predecessors. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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