1
as in conventional
accepted, used, or practiced by most people
the principal disagrees with the prevailing attitude toward corporal punishment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in general
held by or applicable to a majority of the people
the prevailing custom here is to leave one's doors unlocked
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in winning
to achieve victory (as in a contest)
we shall prevail despite the overwhelming odds
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in surviving
to continue to operate or to meet one's needs
a custom that still prevails in many areas of Africa
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of prevailing
Betsy Golden Kellem, JSTOR Daily, 18 Mar. 2026
Harvesting seed nearby is a way to get plants that are genetically adapted to the prevailing environmental conditions and are more likely to thrive.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Jan. 2026
In the northern United States, enjoying the starry winter sky requires protection against the prevailing low temperatures.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 16 Jan. 2026
The monthly stochastic oscillator remains in overbought territory ( > 80%), underscoring the strength of the prevailing bullish trend rather than signaling exhaustion.
—Katie Stockton, CNBC, 15 Dec. 2025
As municipal pools became mixed-gender in the 1920s and ’30s, swimming naked no longer fit prevailing notions of decency.
—Jacob Beckert, The Atlantic, 13 Nov. 2025
Dissent is nothing more than the expression of an opinion that varies from the prevailing or traditional view or the position held by those in power.
—Elizabeth Shackelford, Twin Cities, 26 Sep. 2025
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 19 Mar. 2026
Big spending on behalf of cryptocurrency also seeped into Tuesday’s primaries in Illinois, with only one of the super PAC Fairshake’s four preferred contenders prevailing.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 18 Mar. 2026
This year's new category, Best Casting, has already cracked the glass ceiling, with One Battle After Another's Cassandra Kulukundis prevailing.
—Joyce Eng, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Mar. 2026
Instead of desultoriness—a common atmosphere in these sorts of stories—the prevailing mood is one of qualified happiness.
—Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2026
The race went off apparently without a hitch, with Kyle Kirkwood prevailing.
—Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Mar. 2026
What is the prevailing view of Arteta’s Arsenal in the eyes of the players, coaches and chief executives who come up against them week after week?
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
The Actor award went to Amy Madigan, a lone nominee from a horror film who’s swimming against a prevailing current that favors Best Picture heavyweights.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026
The spectacle comported with the prevailing views of this ensemble’s antisemitism, but its sheer brazenness catapulted them to a new level of mainstream notoriety.
—Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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
Harvesting seed nearby is a way to get plants that are genetically adapted to the prevailing environmental conditions and are more likely to thrive.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Jan. 2026
In the northern United States, enjoying the starry winter sky requires protection against the prevailing low temperatures.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 16 Jan. 2026
The monthly stochastic oscillator remains in overbought territory ( > 80%), underscoring the strength of the prevailing bullish trend rather than signaling exhaustion.
—Katie Stockton, CNBC, 15 Dec. 2025
As municipal pools became mixed-gender in the 1920s and ’30s, swimming naked no longer fit prevailing notions of decency.
—Jacob Beckert, The Atlantic, 13 Nov. 2025
Dissent is nothing more than the expression of an opinion that varies from the prevailing or traditional view or the position held by those in power.
—Elizabeth Shackelford, Twin Cities, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
Ilko argues that the players’ respective physical features challenged the prevailing European system that emphasized whiteness.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 19 Mar. 2026
Big spending on behalf of cryptocurrency also seeped into Tuesday’s primaries in Illinois, with only one of the super PAC Fairshake’s four preferred contenders prevailing.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 18 Mar. 2026
This year's new category, Best Casting, has already cracked the glass ceiling, with One Battle After Another's Cassandra Kulukundis prevailing.
—Joyce Eng, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Mar. 2026
Instead of desultoriness—a common atmosphere in these sorts of stories—the prevailing mood is one of qualified happiness.
—Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2026
The race went off apparently without a hitch, with Kyle Kirkwood prevailing.
—Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Mar. 2026
What is the prevailing view of Arteta’s Arsenal in the eyes of the players, coaches and chief executives who come up against them week after week?
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
The Actor award went to Amy Madigan, a lone nominee from a horror film who’s swimming against a prevailing current that favors Best Picture heavyweights.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026
The spectacle comported with the prevailing views of this ensemble’s antisemitism, but its sheer brazenness catapulted them to a new level of mainstream notoriety.
—Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prevailing
Adjective
-
This four-day celebration of the arts spotlights performances outside of conventional theater walls in more open and unique spaces, such as a boat, park or even in a bubble.—
Carlos Rico,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
-
But that’s only because his road to Denver was a little less conventional, requiring a little extra perseverance.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Construction is expected to begin in March 2027, with the opening planned for fall 2028, the owner and general contractor told Community Impact.—
Julianna Duennes Russ,
Austin American Statesman,
21 Mar. 2026
-
The trefoil disappeared from football kits in the early 1990s, Adidas’s logo shifting to the slanted three stripes that was presumably more consistent with their general aesthetic.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Combined with 66 high school recruits signed during the same period, the Aggies have essentially turned over the roster while winning 19 of 26 games.—
Tony Catalina,
Austin American Statesman,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Bryce Harper then hit a two-run home run to tie the game, setting up the ninth inning for Venezuela’s dramatic win, when Eugenio Suarez hit what would be a game-winning double to drive in Javier Sanoja for a 3-2 lead.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The film stars Samara Weaving as Grace, who finds herself, and her estranged sister, played by Kathryn Newton, the target of another murder spree after surviving a brutal, ritualistic near-death experience from the first film.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Krebs says that the humans with the best odds of surviving in the wild are children.—
Andrew McKean,
Outdoor Life,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Staffing shortages have forced some travelers to build in significantly more time before flights – sometimes hours more than usual.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
23 Mar. 2026
-
February 19 – March 20 Home is where the heart is — that’s even more true than usual.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Dejounte Murray had 17 points and a season-high 11 assists, while Zion Williamson and rookie Derrick Queen each scored 14 for the Pelicans (24-46), who received a standing ovation as the final seconds wound down on their sixth straight victory at home and ninth win in their past 13 games overall.—
Oc Register,
Oc Register,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Co-owner Carolyn Nugent said her team is still figuring out where things go and how their work flows, but overall the upgrade has been just that.—
Tiney Ricciardi,
Denver Post,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Brianna LeConti's younger brother Bryce had a wish granted in 2010, an experience that left a lasting impact.—
Aaron Parseghian,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
-
The clumping foliage of this iris is also an attraction, and its vivid seeds in their pods are suitable for long-lasting dry arrangements.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The revelation of the FBI investigation came a day after Kent resigned his position in protest of the current joint military operations with Israel against Iran.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Mar. 2026
-
The current rate is $1 to unlock a scooter or e-bike, plus 44 cents per minute of riding.—
Elliott Wenzler,
Denver Post,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prevailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prevailing. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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