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
  • The biggest takeaway from the Ravens’ dominant win over the Eagles was impressive showings from Baltimore’s rookie pass catchers.
    Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Summary Claressa Shields captured the WBC and WBA middleweight titles with a dominant sixth-round TKO victory over Kaye Scott in Atlanta.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • With 50,000 unique items for sale and dozens of each on shelves at your typical big box store, that’s a lot for human beings to keep track of.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The carbon footprint was calculated using a range of usage from an industry average of 60% to 100% for round-the-clock deployment, and a gas burn rate of a typical single-cycle gas generator.
    Matt Day, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • As long as the predominant globe-spanning Navy kept the seas free for everyone, there was no reason to be affiliated with any state.
    Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The Odyssey is a story set in the Bronze Age, written in the Iron Age, measured by which metal was the predominant metal that went into weapons of war and other kinds of tools.
    David Frum, The Atlantic, 29 July 2026
Adjective
  • Nearly two-thirds of Gen Z adults say their generation faces tougher economic circumstances than previous generations, according to a nationally representative Urban Institute survey published in July.
    Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Psychologists Kyle Bourassa, David Sbarra and Mark Whisman used data from the nationally representative Midlife in the United States study to examine marital quality and later life satisfaction.
    Kristin Vance Richards, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Preponderant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preponderant. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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