granddaddies

noun

variants also grandaddies
plural of granddaddy
as in forerunners
something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed the granddaddy of all English mystery novels

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of granddaddies Yet now the granddaddy of philanthropic sporting events is being replaced by a sport actually popularized by granddaddies — pickleball. — Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for granddaddies
  1. forerunners
  2. ancestors
  3. precursors
Noun
  • Rather than try to replicate his forerunners’ styles of success, Ternus has so far played to his own strengths—which are also those of Apple, a company that first and foremost builds beautiful products that spark productivity, creativity, and joy.
    — Andrew R. Chow, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Margaret and Alice are the forerunners of Lucy and Ethel, and Shakespeare’s comedy, written expressly to entertain, gives us a sense of what an Elizabethan-era situation comedy might look like.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026
Definition of forerunners
Noun
  • Athorp’s easygoing, unassuming demeanor belies his decades-long experience and expertise, which are rooted in the knowledge passed down by his Indigenous ancestors.
    — Kate Nelson, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2026
  • According to family history, DaCosta Levy’s family lineage traced to Portugal, where his ancestors had been mariners — almost certainly Sephardic Jews who scattered across the Atlantic world after the Inquisition.
    — Zachary Kranc, Sun Sentinel, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of ancestors
Noun
  • Should tens of thousands of American lives have been saved as a result of decisions made about fentanyl precursors in China, the implications are massive.
    — J. Travis Donahoe, STAT, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Just as concerning, the pair may run into the same eligibility issues at the precursors as Seyfried.
    — Nate Jones, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of precursors

Browse Nearby Words

grandams
granddaddies
granddaddy
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Cite this Entry

“Granddaddies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/granddaddies. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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