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
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
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
Doug Ferguson, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
Utah is at the heart of what’s been called the Sagebrush Rebellion, which rose during the Reagan era to challenge the prevailing management of federal lands, and, indeed, the entire idea of federal lands.
—Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2026
The meeting reviewed the prevailing internal and external security environment.
—ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
Taken together, these insights helped scientists arrive at the current prevailing theory that a Mars-size object smashed into Earth, ejecting a blob of molten material from our planet that became the moon.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 6 Apr. 2026
Here’s where the report defies the prevailing narrative.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2026
The prevailing idea stems in part from observations that most of the moon's lava flows are concentrated on the near side, forming the dark plains, or lunar maria, visible from Earth.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Cabin upgrades are available at prevailing rates subject to stateroom availability.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2026
Those factors are the same ones the Department of Labor uses to determine prevailing wage levels.
—Sam Stevenson, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 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
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
The prevailing thought was not concern, not the slightest bit of panic.
—Doug Ferguson, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
Utah is at the heart of what’s been called the Sagebrush Rebellion, which rose during the Reagan era to challenge the prevailing management of federal lands, and, indeed, the entire idea of federal lands.
—Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2026
The meeting reviewed the prevailing internal and external security environment.
—ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
Taken together, these insights helped scientists arrive at the current prevailing theory that a Mars-size object smashed into Earth, ejecting a blob of molten material from our planet that became the moon.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 6 Apr. 2026
Here’s where the report defies the prevailing narrative.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2026
The prevailing idea stems in part from observations that most of the moon's lava flows are concentrated on the near side, forming the dark plains, or lunar maria, visible from Earth.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Cabin upgrades are available at prevailing rates subject to stateroom availability.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2026
Those factors are the same ones the Department of Labor uses to determine prevailing wage levels.
—Sam Stevenson, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prevailing
Adjective
-
But Jude’s subsequent movies have gone in a less conventional direction.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
However, the party piece is that the air trapped under the wing creates a high-pressure cushion effect with a lift-to-drag ratio beyond that of a conventional aircraft.—
David Szondy
April 13,
New Atlas,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
So, in a general process of professionalization that changed the way that music was experienced, raising standards while widening the gap between expert and amateur, the mandolin fell out of fashion.—
Tim Parks,
New Yorker,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Denise Lieberman, director and general counsel for the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition, an organization that champions accessible elections, said the signs serve no purpose, since they’re tied to eligibility, which would be vetted by election officials before a ballot is cast.—
Jack Harvel
April 10,
Kansas City Star,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Seattle's four-game winning streak ended.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The Kings had their five-game winning streak halted.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The literary culture of the Mughal Empire was among the most productive in the early modern world, and its surviving texts reflect something of the complexity that defined the dynasty.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Founded in 1805, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) has lived many lives — surviving fires, moving buildings and adapting to a changing art world.—
Nikki DeMentri,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Here, in this new context, their large eyes did not seem wide with their usual wonder but swollen with grief and disbelief.—
Douglas Stuart,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
-
The critical shipping route, responsible for moving a significant share of the world’s oil, has slowed to a fraction of its usual volume amid the war.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Opposition parties warn that basing constituencies on population could shift political power toward faster-growing northern states, while diminishing the parliamentary representation, seat share and overall influence of southern regions.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The city will also look at outcomes in foot traffic, business activity, and overall vibrancy for markers of success.—
Monique John,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Merrill drew an eight-pitch walk in the first inning, his first plate appearance this season lasting more than seven pitches.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Warmup starts Monday A major warmup, featuring summer-like temperatures in the 80s, will take over the Eastern Seaboard beginning Monday and lasting through most of the week.—
Matthew Villafane,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The program grew slowly under the Biden administration, reaching about 3 million clients, before the current round of disruptions began.—
Dr. Céline Gounder,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
This limitation is partly linked to weaker language guidance in current architectures, though larger vision-language-action models may help address this issue in future work.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prevailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prevailing. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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