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
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Recent Examples of pervasive
This responsive aspect of machine-readable images makes surveillance not only more pervasive but also more effective, enabling machine systems to extract value from human users at greater scale and with greater precision than previously possible.
—
Louis Bury, ARTnews.com, 1 May 2026
The Court held that the Federal Communications Commission’s actions were justified because of the government’s interest in protecting children from offensive material and because broadcast media are uniquely pervasive and also uniquely accessible to children.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Apr. 2026
The swearing is certainly not pervasive, though, and only occurs here and there; there are large stretches of the film that are totally clean language-wise.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
The junk food is so pervasive that its consumption made up almost 20 percent of the time that the monkeys spent eating.
—Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pervasive
Louis Bury, ARTnews.com, 1 May 2026
The Court held that the Federal Communications Commission’s actions were justified because of the government’s interest in protecting children from offensive material and because broadcast media are uniquely pervasive and also uniquely accessible to children.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Apr. 2026
The swearing is certainly not pervasive, though, and only occurs here and there; there are large stretches of the film that are totally clean language-wise.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
The junk food is so pervasive that its consumption made up almost 20 percent of the time that the monkeys spent eating.
—Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pervasive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pervasive
Adjective
-
In the greater public, a dangerous, inchoate rage directed at Barack Obama persists alongside the widespread affection for him.—
Peter Slevin,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
But activists say abuses are still widespread and that workers have few avenues to pursue justice.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
Bus lanes there are physically separated from general traffic.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
While general manager Jeff Pagliocca has been quick to trade high draft picks in the past, the front office still has a desire to build through the draft — and has not been successful in that endeavor.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
Indeed, caves are prevalent throughout the city, and the recent findings revealed far more than anyone had realized.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
3 May 2026
-
Don’t be tempted to skimp on spacing to squeeze in more plants, or disease will become more prevalent, and fruit production will suffer.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 May 2026
Adjective
-
Many of the precautions a traveler could take are similar to those that became familiar at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
-
Details about the underlying allegation remain murky, but the department sources familiar with the matter said the LAPD’s secretive Special Operations Division tailed officers who were under investigation.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
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
Cite this Entry
“Pervasive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pervasive. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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