preponderance

noun

pri-ˈpän-d(ə-)rən(t)s How to pronounce preponderance (audio)
Definition of preponderancenext
1
as in dominance
the fact or state of being above others in rank or importance not since Rome in its glory days had a nation enjoyed such overwhelming military preponderance

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in majority
the largest part or quantity of something a preponderance of the evidence points to the guilt of the defendant

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 preponderance The preponderance of white and cream colors, in the guest rooms and the lobby, also evoke the earlier Delano designs. — Miami Herald, 13 July 2026 Meanwhile, two- to four-unit rental buildings that made up the preponderance of affordable housing for families in these areas have been lost to blight and disinvestment. — Jeffrey Steele, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026 The agreement is an acknowledgement that the defense could prove by a preponderance of the evidence that severe mental disease or defect caused McGuire not to comprehend that his conduct in the killing was wrong. — Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 June 2026 At both meetups, there was a preponderance of tidying—children’s rooms, offices, spare rooms, digital photo libraries, inboxes. — Patricia Marx, New Yorker, 15 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for preponderance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preponderance
  1. dominance
  2. majority
  3. superiority
  4. bulk
  5. distinction
  6. reputation
Noun
  • In recent years, Nike has lost major athletes Lamine Yamal, Harry Kane, and Ousmane Dembélé to competitor brands, reflecting its waning dominance in the performance sportswear market.
    — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026
  • So did their strong three-person alliance, which through strategic gameplay and season-long dominance ensured at least one of them would have a real shot at winning the game.
    — McKinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of dominance
Noun
  • In June, venture capital and private equity firm HSG completed its investment in Golden Goose, becoming its majority shareholder.
    — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Even though the vast majority of prescriptions are written for generic drugs, drug spending is surging faster than any other category — and drugs have been eating more of the employer’s premium for multiple years now.
    — Bob Herman, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of majority
Noun
  • Chelsea have huge numerical superiority in their own penalty area as Kevin Schade catapults one in from the Brentford left, but only Cole Palmer is in position to contest any second ball out on its edge.
    — Liam Twomey, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • That result shocked many Germans who had believed their country had developed an immunity to nationalism and assertions of racial superiority after confronting the horrors of its Nazi past through education and laws to prohibit persecution.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of superiority
Noun
  • The fleece lining adds warmth without extra bulk, and the outer polyester material is water-resistant to protect against rain and snow.
    — Kaitlin Gates, Travel + Leisure, 29 Sep. 2026
  • The team’s leading receiver was Brycen Tremayne — Xavier Legette didn’t play at all with a knee injury and Jalen Coker missed a bulk of the second half with a quad injury.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of bulk
Noun
  • Richard seems to be drawing a distinction between representing a culture and living it.
    — Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2026
  • On an objective level, this is so close to n log n that the distinction almost doesn’t matter.
    — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of distinction
Noun
  • Mercury in your 5th House quincunxes Saturn in your 10th, bringing play, romance, or self-expression up against responsibilities, reputation, or outside expectations.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Despite its tranquil reputation, knitting is anything but boring.
    — Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of reputation

Browse Nearby Words

prepense
preponderance
preponderances
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All