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English speakers borrowed pervade in the mid-17th century from Latin pervadere, meaning "to go through." Pervadere, in turn, was formed by combining the prefix per-, meaning "through," with the verb vadere, meaning "to go." Synonyms of pervade include permeate, impregnate, and saturate. Pervade stresses a spreading diffusion throughout every part of a whole ("art and music pervade every aspect of their lives"). Permeate implies diffusion specifically throughout a material thing ("the smell of freshly baked bread permeated the house"). Impregnate suggests a forceful influence or effect on something throughout ("impregnate the cotton with alcohol"). Saturate is used when nothing more may be taken up or absorbed ("the cloth is saturated with water").
Examples of pervade in a Sentence
Katy Siegel, Artforum, 2 June 2026
These questions pervade in the present, in the wake of Brown’s departure to the New England Patriots by trade.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 1 June 2026
Shakespeare’s genius is as evident in The Merchant of Venice, which is pervaded by anti-Semitism, as in his other work.
—Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 31 May 2026
The sweetness of the Deborah-Ava relationship eventually became a nice blanket in which Hacks swaddled its viewers, its cozy intent pervading not just the narrative but just about every other aspect of the show.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for pervade
Cite this Entry
“Pervade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pervade. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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