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 In Britain, politicians are paying dearly for the pervasive sense that life is only getting harder and more expensive. — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 23 June 2026 Crews will experience coarse terrain, pervasive dust, and a surface unlike anything here on Earth. — Leonard David, Space.com, 22 June 2026 Misinformation about such spending is pervasive. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 22 June 2026 Galaxies emit light across the electromagnetic spectrum, but wavelengths in the extreme ultraviolet (UV) are absorbed very efficiently by pervasive clouds of hydrogen in intergalactic space, which blocks most of that UV light from more distant objects. — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 19 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for pervasive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pervasive
  1. widespread
  2. general
  3. prevalent
  4. familiar
  5. prevailing
Adjective
  • The 2023 wave of large-language-model adoption produced widespread experimentation but very little production deployment in compliance-critical workflows, because the cost of a wrong answer in regulation remains higher than the cost of a slow one.
    — Matthew White, Fortune, 7 July 2026
  • The nostalgia of the digital camera is a key factor in the widespread attraction to the device.
    — Anya Joseph, Mercury News, 7 July 2026
Definition of widespread
Adjective
  • Others, like Chevanni Davids, a 33-year-old South African man living in Bali, use them to maintain a general sense of well-being.
    — Shelby Hartman, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • Ukraine's military general staff said Monday that the strike caused a fire at the facility, which is situated nearly 2,500 kilometers (1,553 miles) from Ukrainian territory and close to Russia's border with Kazakhstan.
    — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 7 July 2026
Definition of general
Adjective
  • The couple’s desire for privacy was prevalent at their New York City wedding, where both the couple's and their guests’ security was prioritized.
    — Bella DeCrescenzo, The Providence Journal, 4 July 2026
  • The Elora bathroom boasts the type of hybrid wet/dry layout that has become increasingly prevalent in Europe and gained a little steam in the US.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 July 2026
Definition of prevalent
Adjective
  • While no one wants a bad night's sleep, most of us experience occasional sleep disruptions stemming from familiar culprits like late-night doomscrolling, too much caffeine, stress or an inconsistent bedtime routine.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 8 July 2026
  • Tensions over race and history are familiar for Lynne Jackson, who now runs a foundation in Missouri to honor Dred Scott and his effort to vindicate his rights.
    — Carrie Johnson, NPR, 7 July 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 15 Jul. 2026.

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