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
  • China currently plays a dominant role in the global tungsten supply chain, leaving the US facing a challenge that goes beyond finding new deposits.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 27 Sep. 2026
  • The goal of the event is to raise funds to support programs that help farmers thrive and take action to change the dominant system of industrial agriculture and promote food from family farms.
    — Isabelle Farina, Variety, 26 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Instead of reaching out to typical Western researchers and scientists, Boyland and his team went to Africa and approached wildlife guides, drivers, photographers, and locals who saw wildlife daily.
    — Addie Morfoot, Variety, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Options flows from institutional investors are around three times higher than a typical September, the data shows.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 27 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Through the year 2027, architecture convergence will remain predominant, meaning centralized computing, zonal designs, maturing OTA functionality, shareable and reusable software platforms and stronger hardware/software modularity.
    — Rajjie Sarmey, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The exterior is clad in glass and limestone that reflects the predominant materials on Northwestern’s nearby campus.
    — Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Many people avoid answering pollsters’ overtures, a reality that makes representative samples drawn from surveys alone nearly impossible.
    — W. Joseph Campbell, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2026
  • An EducationWeek Research Center study conducted earlier this year found that a majority of a nationally representative sample of 753 teachers, principals and district leaders use technology between one and four hours each day.
    — Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 17 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Preponderant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preponderant. Accessed 28 Sep. 2026.

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