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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
Justin Worland, Time, 28 Feb. 2026
And for years, researchers have documented the gender bias that pervades the field of economics.
—Yana Van Der Meulen Rodgers, The Conversation, 27 Feb. 2026
The warmer conditions that will pervade the Sierra Nevada also will take shape in the region following the departure of this week’s storm.
—Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2026
The 4chan logic that turned even the most hideous news and ideas into empty entertainment pervades everything on the internet now—more proof that lol, nothing matters.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 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 2 Mar. 2026.
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