preponderant

Definition of preponderantnext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word preponderant different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of preponderant are dominant, paramount, and predominant. While all these words mean "superior to all others in influence or importance," preponderant applies to an element or factor that outweighs all others in influence or effect.

preponderant evidence in her favor

In what contexts can dominant take the place of preponderant?

In some situations, the words dominant and preponderant are roughly equivalent. However, dominant applies to something that is uppermost because ruling or controlling.

a dominant social class

When is it sensible to use paramount instead of preponderant?

The meanings of paramount and preponderant largely overlap; however, paramount implies supremacy in importance, rank, or jurisdiction.

unemployment was the paramount issue in the campaign

When would predominant be a good substitute for preponderant?

Although the words predominant and preponderant have much in common, predominant applies to something that exerts, often temporarily, the most marked influence.

a predominant emotion

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 preponderant Because sugar plantations were so large and enslaved populations were so preponderant, whites feared that any tumult would end with their heads on pikes. Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 May 2026 American grand strategists also need to ask whether the country still benefits from being the preponderant provider of global public goods, such as freedom of navigation. Rebecca Lissner, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025 Market value was preponderant in determining the value of the piece of land that the state deemed worthy of expropriating. Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2025 But the preponderant migrants’ motivation has been, and continues to be, to provide a better life for their families. Bill Gray, The Mercury News, 12 Feb. 2025 The relevance and recent growth of regional Mexican music has become undeniable, and today, the genre holds a preponderant place within the industry. Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 16 Mar. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preponderant
Adjective
  • His once-dominant bat has gone quiet, leading to significant fan frustration, including boos at home games despite his excellent defense.
    Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • At the time, Americans sipped one dominant style of beer, a light lager, sold by big breweries such as Coors and Anheuser-Busch.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Its technology has also reached production at volumes far beyond typical nuclear manufacturing.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2026
  • On top of that over the last two weeks of August, a trough over the eastern Pacific was bringing in even heavier rain than typical for multiple days in a row, Weiss said.
    Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • So the Fed's predominant focus right now should be on prices.
    Scott Horsley, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Environmental samples collected from the market, specifically in areas where wildlife sales were predominant, contained SARS-CoV-2 genetic material.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 25 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Twenty-one representative motion clips were subsequently deployed on a physical humanoid robot, demonstrating reliable transfer from simulation to hardware.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2026
  • His election as chief executive in 2008 and 2012 greatly furthered rapprochement with Beijing, though negotiations on representative offices were unsuccessful.
    Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Preponderant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preponderant. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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