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
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
Jeremy Rutherford, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2026
So while there were certain elements that would’ve made this a nice trip for a family with young adults, that wasn’t the prevailing guest.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Feb. 2026
Those groups argue that Port KC has not lived up to a promise that its projects would be subject to Missouri’s prevailing wage and minimum apprenticeship standards.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2026
As events are leaning toward David Ellison and Paramount prevailing in its $108 billion hostile-takeover bid for Warner Bros Discovery, almost a dozen Republican state attorneys general are insisting that the federal government heavily scrutinize Netflix‘s bid for the iconic studio.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 25 Feb. 2026
This development challenged the prevailing wisdom then that training advanced models require more processing power, and raised questions about the effectiveness of US tech and export controls.
—John Liu, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026
Dundalk and Perry Hall met in last season’s second round, with Dundalk prevailing, 41-35.
—Michael Howes, Baltimore Sun, 24 Feb. 2026
The Indian Citizenship Act of 1924 rectified an injustice prevailing before that date, which did not confer this status upon Native persons.
—Walter E Block, Oc Register, 24 Feb. 2026
The Winchester brothers were the prevailing ship — known as Wincest — in the early years, until Misha Collins’s awkward angel Castiel joined the show in season four.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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
With the team’s best players playing so well down that stretch, especially Thomas, the prevailing thought was that adding center depth in Pius Suter and Nick Bjugstad could keep them in the wild-card conversation.
—Jeremy Rutherford, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2026
So while there were certain elements that would’ve made this a nice trip for a family with young adults, that wasn’t the prevailing guest.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Feb. 2026
Those groups argue that Port KC has not lived up to a promise that its projects would be subject to Missouri’s prevailing wage and minimum apprenticeship standards.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2026
As events are leaning toward David Ellison and Paramount prevailing in its $108 billion hostile-takeover bid for Warner Bros Discovery, almost a dozen Republican state attorneys general are insisting that the federal government heavily scrutinize Netflix‘s bid for the iconic studio.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 25 Feb. 2026
This development challenged the prevailing wisdom then that training advanced models require more processing power, and raised questions about the effectiveness of US tech and export controls.
—John Liu, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026
Dundalk and Perry Hall met in last season’s second round, with Dundalk prevailing, 41-35.
—Michael Howes, Baltimore Sun, 24 Feb. 2026
The Indian Citizenship Act of 1924 rectified an injustice prevailing before that date, which did not confer this status upon Native persons.
—Walter E Block, Oc Register, 24 Feb. 2026
The Winchester brothers were the prevailing ship — known as Wincest — in the early years, until Misha Collins’s awkward angel Castiel joined the show in season four.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prevailing
Adjective
-
The solution can also be pumped, transported, and stored using conventional plumbing.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Rather than a conventional spa, Upper House Hong Kong takes a personal approach to wellness.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
And there is a general lack of a clear approach.—
Philipp Lahm,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Major rainfall in December and early February created ideal breeding conditions, said Susanne Kluh, general manager for the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
For San Diego State, winning the Mountain West women’s swimming and diving championship last week was a perfect way to say farewell to the conference.—
Bill Center,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
-
For a kid from Riverside, if that game-winning layup was his dream shot, his performance against the rival Trojans was his dream night.—
Aaron Heisen,
Oc Register,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Sam has captivated the Las Vegas community after surviving in the desert for months.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Cardiac arrest survival rates are low, with about 10% of patients surviving a cardiac arrest outside of the hospital, according to the American Heart Association.—
Alexandra Murphy,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
But as Israel closed checkpoints to the movement of people and goods on Saturday, gas stations saw longer-than-usual lines as residents filled spare canisters in case of supply disruptions.—
CLAUDIA CIOBANU,
Arkansas Online,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Everyone’s hearts are closer to the surface than usual, so being tolerant of one another’s idiosyncrasies could be necessary to avoid strife.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The best recent example of this rule is the green energy industry (solar and wind power), which has been heavily boosted with taxpayer dollars for almost 50 years now and is still an inconsequential form of overall energy supply.—
Stephen Moore,
Boston Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Conte’s prediction that the Premier League’s overall level would increase and that complacent clubs would plummet down the table has come to pass.—
Dan Kilpatrick,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But several rounds of peace talks hosted by Turkey in November failed to produce a lasting agreement, and the two sides have occasionally traded fire since then.—
ABDUL QAHAR AFGHAN,
Arkansas Online,
2 Mar. 2026
-
But several rounds of peace talks in Turkey in November failed to produce a lasting agreement, and the two sides have occasionally traded fire since then.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Under the current version of the empty homes tax measure, owners of vacant second homes would have to pay an annual levy of $8,000 the first year, effective in 2027, and $10,000 every following year.—
Lori Weisberg,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Lastly, Warriors assistant coach Kris Weems enjoyed a long conversation with onetime Stanford teammate and current Grizzlies commentator Brevin Knight.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prevailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prevailing. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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