ascendant vs ancestor

ascendant and ancestor both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
ascendant	Yes	Yes	No	No
ancestor	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, ascendant and ancestor are synonyms defined as:

ascendant and ancestor: someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)

Other synonyms of ascendant include antecedent, ascendent, root.

ascendant (noun)	ancestor (noun)
someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)	someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)
position or state of being dominant or in control

ascendant (adjective)	ancestor (adjective)
tending or directed upward
most powerful or important or influential