Synonyms for

Descendants

Verb / dɪˈsendʌnts / / dɪˈsenɪnts / Another word for descendants — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

The children, grandchildren, and continuing generations of a particular person or group.

Synonyms & similar words

descendant descendent ancestor posterity offspring progeny heirs successors posterity lineage family clan tribe race bloodline ancestry inheritors scions issue seed spawn heirloom legacy heredity

Synonyms by register

Formal

offspring heirs successors

Informal

kids lineage posterity

Literary

issue seed posterity

Antonyms

ancestors forebears predecessors progenitors forerunners originators

Common collocations

  • direct descendants
  • future descendants
  • his descendants
  • her descendants
  • their descendants
  • descendants of the king
  • descendants of the people

Word family

noun descendant
verb descend
adjective descending

Usage note

Descendants refers to people or animals that are related to a person or animal who lived in the past. It is often used in formal contexts, especially when discussing lineage or inheritance.

Example sentences

  1. The descendants of the dinosaurs are birds.
  2. I am a descendant of Irish immigrants.
  3. The royal family has many descendants.
  4. Some people study their family tree to learn about their descendants.
  5. The descendants of the ancient Greeks still have an impact on the world today.

Quotes

  • We are all descendants of the restless, the nervous, the criminals, the arguers, and the bawlers. - John Steinbeck
  • The descendants of Cain are all around us. - Harold Bloom
  • The descendants of European immigrants do not govern the United States of America today. The foreign and domestic policies of the country are made by the descendants of slaves. - Ta-Nehisi Coates

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