pervasive

adjective

Definition of pervasivenext
as in widespread
existing in every part of something; spreading to all parts of something A pervasive smell filled the room. the pervasive nature of the problem

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 pervasive Horror, always popular, is generally having a big moment, becoming at once more pervasive and more direct. — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026 The cultural and political landscape of Europe and America today—characterized by polarization, populism, and a pervasive distrust of institutions—can be understood, at least in part, as the legacy of the response to the 9/11 attacks by Al-Qaeda. — Faisal Devji, Time, 11 Sep. 2026 It’s grown in the years since, as disillusionment with dating apps has risen, loneliness remains pervasive, and a generation raised on screens is sold solutions like AI lovers. — Emily Kelleher, InStyle, 9 Sep. 2026 First, though, Cline builds up to a description of a long-ago incident between the two boys that feels out of place in a novel about a more pervasive, murky sense of failure. — Emma Alpern, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pervasive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pervasive
  1. widespread
  2. general
  3. prevalent
  4. familiar
  5. prevailing
Adjective
  • The future looks bleak for many students Anxieties about the job market, homeownership and adulthood are widespread across the East Lansing campus, even among those who are not deeply involved in politics.
    — Jacqueline Ganun, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026
  • However, widespread deployment still depends on compatible vehicles, chargers, communications systems, regulations, and business models.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of widespread
Adjective
  • Officials have also decided on a general application screening and approval process, including what types of background checks will be necessary and which government agencies should be involved.
    — Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Davide Sgariboldi, general manager at Euroitalia, said that causes excitement.
    — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of general
Adjective
  • But these approaches didn’t feel right for Blow Yourself Up, because while other media are prevalent, the story is told in traditional prose through sequential scenes.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Scholars refer to this increasingly prevalent problem as cognitive offloading.
    — Monideepa Tarafdar, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of prevalent
Adjective
  • The New York Yankees face an all-too-familiar 2-0 deficit in the postseason, largely due to an all-too-familiar mind-numbing facet of the team.
    — Ryan Morik OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The 1,800-square-foot layout was configured to work harder without sacrificing familiar sight lines.
    — Kristen Flanagan, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of familiar
Adjective
  • The group noted the projection was revised upward from an earlier estimate owing to an additional year in the budget window and higher prevailing interest rates.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Likewise, prevailing concepts of Hamlet at the time cast the prince as a wan and melancholic, leading critics to bristle at Bernhardt’s energy.
    — Betsy Golden Kellem, JSTOR Daily, 18 Mar. 2026
Definition of prevailing

Browse Nearby Words

pervasions
pervasive
perverse
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pervasive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pervasive. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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