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
Elizabeth Shackelford, Twin Cities, 26 Sep. 2025
Patricia Lopez, Mercury News, 25 Sep. 2025
Security has long been the prevailing concern of both Republicans and Democrats with regard to TikTok’s ownership by China.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2025
The resulting plume tool shows pollution traveling across urban areas on typical days with prevailing conditions, and also on a worst-case scenario day with the most people exposed.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025
Given the prevailing weather pattern, forecast guidance currently favors a track fairly similar to Gabrielle’s.
—Daniel Peck, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2025
When Einstein first cooked up the general theory of relativity, our conception of gravity forever shifted from the prevailing notion of Newtonian gravity.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 23 Sep. 2025
While the prevailing method for casting brass pots in England involved molds made with clay, the Dutch used molds made of sand, which produced a finer finish.
—Emily Johnson, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Sep. 2025
Over the last two years, sneaker loafer hybrids of all shapes and sizes have been a prevailing trend.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 21 Sep. 2025
But both further polarized a nation already deeply divided by political ideology and touched off a movement to punish those whose views did not fall in line with the prevailing sentiment of the moment.
—Michael Collins, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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
The $100,000 fees, along with new prevailing wage rules, may be prohibitive enough to tank the whole program.
—Patricia Lopez, Mercury News, 25 Sep. 2025
Security has long been the prevailing concern of both Republicans and Democrats with regard to TikTok’s ownership by China.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2025
The resulting plume tool shows pollution traveling across urban areas on typical days with prevailing conditions, and also on a worst-case scenario day with the most people exposed.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025
Given the prevailing weather pattern, forecast guidance currently favors a track fairly similar to Gabrielle’s.
—Daniel Peck, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2025
When Einstein first cooked up the general theory of relativity, our conception of gravity forever shifted from the prevailing notion of Newtonian gravity.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 23 Sep. 2025
While the prevailing method for casting brass pots in England involved molds made with clay, the Dutch used molds made of sand, which produced a finer finish.
—Emily Johnson, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Sep. 2025
Over the last two years, sneaker loafer hybrids of all shapes and sizes have been a prevailing trend.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 21 Sep. 2025
But both further polarized a nation already deeply divided by political ideology and touched off a movement to punish those whose views did not fall in line with the prevailing sentiment of the moment.
—Michael Collins, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prevailing
Adjective
-
At a conventional intersection, drivers are turning left, traffic is passing in both directions and a right turn on red might include a driver who doesn’t see a pedestrian crossing with the light, Bryson said.—
Eric D. Lawrence,
USA Today,
28 Sep. 2025
-
The duo poured cups of coffee from a rotation of conventional café spaces, such as Milwaukee Caffé, and unconventional ones, like Savvy Chic, a clothing and homeware boutique in Eastern Market.—
Lyndsay C. Green,
Freep.com,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The general guideline is for healthy adults to get 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity per week, along with at least two days of strength training and activities to improve balance.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
27 Sep. 2025
-
Expecting heavy rain, Joey, a general contractor and project manager, decided to work from home.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Latin Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Feid, born Salomón Villada Hoyos, is taking his vocal talents to the world of fragrance.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
26 Sep. 2025
-
The Grammy-winning rocker and '80s icon has since changed his tune, using his public performances as a musical soapbox to rebuke the president's conduct and policies.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Soros makes a fortune on Wall Street Soros, a Hungarian native born in 1930, moved to London after surviving the Nazi occupation of his home country.—
Auzinea Bacon,
CNN Money,
28 Sep. 2025
-
The service was held at Elvis Presley’s Tennessee home Graceland, and Garcia was joined by his mother and Lisa Marie’s surviving children.—
Stephanie Kaloi,
PEOPLE,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
In her usual soft-spoken British accent, she was known for balancing the grim realities of the climate crisis with a sincere message of hope for the future.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Messi, who was denied by the post in the first half but who struggled to make his usual impact, walked off the field and straight to the locker room at the final whistle without stopping for any of the usual handshakes or greetings.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
ByteDance will be allowed to keep just under 20% and current investors will account for an overall 35%.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
26 Sep. 2025
-
That category accounts for 50% of each NBA team’s overall Future Power Rating, the 0-100 score each team receives to determine its overall ranking.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Economists believe that a restructuring of China's over-capacity issue is already in motion and will likely be a lasting theme in the 15th five-year plan.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Stege Bojer’s goal is to build lasting jeans that could one day be worth passing on.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
With a global database, scientists and researchers are able to use uploaded images to piece together the puzzle that is the climate crisis, using them to analyze and assess the current state of microregions across the world.—
Madison Beveridge,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Sep. 2025
-
After being repeatedly condemned as a war criminal by other world leaders during the United Nations General Assembly's current meeting in New York, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will have his turn speaking on the world stage on Friday.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prevailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prevailing. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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