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

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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 Kim presides over a system increasingly marked by doubt, suspicion, and pervasive anxiety. — Jieun Baek, Foreign Affairs, 30 Oct. 2026 Like the other unions, SCF has also argued there are pervasive issues with long working hours and inadequate staffing at train station control centers. — Vasco Cotovio, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026 When ProPublica published its story in 2019, ransomware was growing into one of the world’s most pervasive cyberthreats. — Renee Dudley, ProPublica, 26 Oct. 2026 What readers are saying The comments reflect a strong concern about the pervasive use of plastics and their environmental and health impacts. — Shannon Osaka, Washington Post, 25 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pervasive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pervasive
  1. widespread
  2. general
  3. prevalent
  4. familiar
  5. prevailing
Adjective
  • There were no stories of voter intimidation, no allegations of widespread fraud or false certification.
    — James D. Zirin, Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2026
  • As for obstacles, experts nodded to persistent bottlenecks in shelter beds reserved for domestic violence survivors and legal support options, financial limitations, especially as pandemic-era federal funding dries up, and widespread access to guns.
    — Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of widespread
Adjective
  • At Nick the Greek in downtown Davis, general manager Trina Ordonez said she's noticed an increase in people experiencing homelessness coming into the restaurant.
    — Brady Halbleib, CBS News, 11 Nov. 2026
  • Former Kings general manager and defenseman Rob Blake was in attendance.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of general
Adjective
  • While companies like Target have eliminated PP from their denim production, the chemical is still prevalent across the industry.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Extreme heat exacerbates underlying health conditions that tend to be more prevalent in communities of color where rates of chronic respiratory and cardiovascular disease are higher than the Chicago average, according to city data.
    — Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of prevalent
Adjective
  • The Sagittarius Moon draws attention to your private world, while Mercury retrograde in Scorpio encourages another look at familiar accounts.
    — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 11 Nov. 2026
  • These businesses offer artists access to audiences who may not regularly visit museums or galleries, allowing artwork to become part of familiar neighborhood environments.
    — J.M. Banks November 10, Kansas City Star, 10 Nov. 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 13 Nov. 2026.

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