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
Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
The prevailing narrative that wealthy buyers are fleeing New York may be getting harder to sell.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 17 June 2026
Kansas City and the area have done too much, too right for the World Cup over nearly a decade now to allow this key aspect of the experience to become a prevailing story.
—Kansas City Star, 17 June 2026
This time, the prevailing assumption, in part based on teammates’ words, is that Pulisic will be fine and ready to face Australia.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 17 June 2026
These candidates' rise to political prominence comes at a crucial time for Democrats as Republican legislatures have redrawn historically Black districts to weaken their opposition's chances of prevailing at the polls.
—Jay Stahl, USA Today, 16 June 2026
As of June 15, Anthropic said that kind of outside SDK usage would be billed at Anthropic’s prevailing API rates, with subscribers receiving a simple monthly usage credit equal to their subscription price.
—Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 16 June 2026
Until now, the prevailing logic has been that only supermassive black holes could whip up winds powerful enough to lay waste to the largest galaxies.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 10 June 2026
On OpenAI, Kalshi gives Goldman a 73% chance of prevailing, and Polymarket puts the odds at even for Anthropic.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 10 June 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
For several years now, the prevailing narrative around Katy Perry has been that one of the biggest pop stars in the world had somehow lost her magic.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
The prevailing narrative that wealthy buyers are fleeing New York may be getting harder to sell.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 17 June 2026
Kansas City and the area have done too much, too right for the World Cup over nearly a decade now to allow this key aspect of the experience to become a prevailing story.
—Kansas City Star, 17 June 2026
This time, the prevailing assumption, in part based on teammates’ words, is that Pulisic will be fine and ready to face Australia.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 17 June 2026
These candidates' rise to political prominence comes at a crucial time for Democrats as Republican legislatures have redrawn historically Black districts to weaken their opposition's chances of prevailing at the polls.
—Jay Stahl, USA Today, 16 June 2026
As of June 15, Anthropic said that kind of outside SDK usage would be billed at Anthropic’s prevailing API rates, with subscribers receiving a simple monthly usage credit equal to their subscription price.
—Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 16 June 2026
Until now, the prevailing logic has been that only supermassive black holes could whip up winds powerful enough to lay waste to the largest galaxies.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 10 June 2026
On OpenAI, Kalshi gives Goldman a 73% chance of prevailing, and Polymarket puts the odds at even for Anthropic.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 10 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prevailing
Adjective
-
But Lohar isn’t interested in conventional battle.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
22 June 2026
-
Developed in partnership with the University of Bremen, the wheels were originally heavier and narrower than comparable conventional pneumatic wheels.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
22 June 2026
Adjective
-
Sox general manager Chris Getz is simply giving more opportunities to his prospects after recently giving Rikuu Nishida a brief taste of the majors.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2026
-
The budget projects the district’s unrestricted general fund will end this year at $62 million in the red.—
Chaewon Chung,
Sacbee.com,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
When the action returned, Germany found their rhythm and ended up winning 7-1.—
Tom Burrows,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
-
Perhaps the most intriguing situation this summer surrounds the Florida Panthers, who missed the playoffs after winning back-to-back championships.—
Stephen Whyno,
Chicago Tribune,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
The hardliners have emerged with their hands on the levers of power and battlefield command, and their supporters now flood Iran’s streets with daily rallies celebrating a newfound legitimacy forged through surviving the US-Israeli assault.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
18 June 2026
-
Both parties agreed to repay the money that was borrowed, and the death of one borrower generally does not eliminate the surviving borrower's legal obligation.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
As Strong spoke with state reporters this week on campus, her answers were even more clipped than usual, almost terse.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
21 June 2026
-
Thirteen-year-old MGP rye bottled at 112 proof is a recipe for success, a classic rye style that is aged for longer than usual and bottled at a higher proof, which means less dilution, more flavor, and a deeper palate.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
21 June 2026
Adjective
-
The findings indicate that bird-watching and similar hobbies may support overall brain health, though researchers stop short of saying the activity definitively halts cognitive decline.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
18 June 2026
-
However, overall cast diversity in streaming films declined in 2025.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
The inaugural flight took place from Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport in France, where test pilot Sébastien Dupont de Dinechin and copilot Fabrice Dougnac lifted off aboard the Falcon 10X for a mission lasting approximately two and a half hours.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
21 June 2026
-
One solution the report suggests is fully paid leave for fathers - lasting as long as maternity leave.—
Kamala Thiagarajan,
NPR,
21 June 2026
Adjective
-
Under the current law, judges must presume mental illness was a factor if a defendant with a legitimate diagnosis seeks diversion.—
James Queally,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
-
The Islamic Republic of Iran will maintain the current status quo of its nuclear program, and the United States of America will not impose any new sanctions and will not deploy additional forces in the region.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
The Washington Examiner,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prevailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prevailing. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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