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
Matthew Kelly
updated April 15, Kansas City Star, 15 Apr. 2026
The prevailing theory is that Goldman was caught offsides on trades tied to interest rates in the first quarter, according to several market participants who asked for anonymity to speak candidly.
—Hugh Son, CNBC, 15 Apr. 2026
With Ferguson’s stiff arm prevailing, the failure deals a blow to Moore, a potential 2028 presidential candidate.
—Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 14 Apr. 2026
Thanks to the religious hostilities that burst open in the late sixteenth century, the prevailing hue is blood.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
The prevailing model treats it as cold and collisionless, meaning its particles pass through each other without interaction.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 13 Apr. 2026
Doom and gloom is hardly ever the prevailing mood at CinemaCon, however.
—ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
The Kings have matched their season-long surge, from November, prevailing in four straight to extend their points streak to six games.
—Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 11 Apr. 2026
The prevailing mystery in the situation is the woman's identity, the sheriff's office stated in the release.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 10 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
That’s the prevailing opinion among Republican and Democratic candidates vying to become the Sunflower State’s next governor.
—Matthew Kelly
updated April 15, Kansas City Star, 15 Apr. 2026
The prevailing theory is that Goldman was caught offsides on trades tied to interest rates in the first quarter, according to several market participants who asked for anonymity to speak candidly.
—Hugh Son, CNBC, 15 Apr. 2026
With Ferguson’s stiff arm prevailing, the failure deals a blow to Moore, a potential 2028 presidential candidate.
—Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 14 Apr. 2026
Thanks to the religious hostilities that burst open in the late sixteenth century, the prevailing hue is blood.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
The prevailing model treats it as cold and collisionless, meaning its particles pass through each other without interaction.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 13 Apr. 2026
Doom and gloom is hardly ever the prevailing mood at CinemaCon, however.
—ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
The Kings have matched their season-long surge, from November, prevailing in four straight to extend their points streak to six games.
—Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 11 Apr. 2026
The prevailing mystery in the situation is the woman's identity, the sheriff's office stated in the release.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 10 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
-
Davis reflected on the tragedy of the situation and the trauma inflected on the surviving children.—
Ivan Pereira,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
His is a work of coming to terms with the odds, surviving them, and doing so with grace, radiance, generosity, and spirit.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 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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