prevailing 1 of 2

adjective

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

prevailing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of prevail
1
as in winning
to achieve victory (as in a contest) we shall prevail despite the overwhelming odds

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 prevailing
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
This figure, higher than prevailing estimates, suggests more oil is reaching markets, explaining the surprisingly muted crude price spikes despite ongoing conflicts. — David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 Across three seasons of TV, six feature-length films, and multiple DVD extras, the prevailing theme is that these guys love one another. — Tim Grierson, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026 For one thing, the exceptions to the prevailing rule of rising markets tend to hurt, and the idea of sidestepping them is, for many, irresistible. — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 10 Aug. 2026 In Singapore, authorities warned that prevailing southeasterly winds could carry smoke toward the city-state, with dry conditions expected to prevail. — Trisnadi, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026 Sauer said that such tourism is evidence of the negative effects of the prevailing interpretation of the Citizenship Clause. — Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026 Numerous times on the call, as well as in its earnings release, Nexstar reaffirmed its confidence in ultimately prevailing in the matter. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2026 One of Kansas City’s prevailing offseason storylines was Simmons appearing for OTAs looking slimmed down. — Kansas City Star, 5 Aug. 2026 El-Sayed slammed Stevens to Fox 2 Detroit for her support from pro-Israel groups, who want to prevent the former public health director from prevailing in the race. — Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prevailing
  1. conventional
  2. general
  3. winning
  4. surviving
  5. usual
  6. overall
  7. lasting
  8. current
Adjective
  • However, beneath the park lies an enormous volcanic system capable of producing eruptions far larger than those associated with conventional volcanoes.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The announcement was striking for the governor, who once supported conventional electric vehicles but then turned on them, becoming increasingly hostile to policies designed to encourage EV adoption.
    — Emily L. Mahoney, Miami Herald, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of conventional
Adjective
  • The general managers described Garcia as Sanchez’s husband and as a hardworking, dedicated family man who supported not only his family in New York but also back in his home country, Colombia.
    — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Carr's connection to the job was through Bruins general manager Darrick Yray, an offensive assistant and an assistant director of football operations at Fresno State during Carr's prolific career with the Bulldogs.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of general
Verb
  • Teams earned points by winning weekly head-to-head battles – tugging a sled across the field the fastest, surviving a heated game of dodgeball – and by simply doing the right thing.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Pinch-hitter Max Muncy crushed a three-run shot in the sixth inning to become the top home run hitter in Dodger Stadium history, but Los Angeles’ three-game winning streak ended with another concerning bullpen meltdown.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of winning
Verb
  • The country's remaining population still appears to hold an important reservoir of genetic diversity, representing one of the last surviving populations outside Australia.
    — Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Soto Zea said that surviving Monday’s earthquake in Colombia after witnessing the devastation left behind in nearby Venezuela has left her feeling very nervous.
    — Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of surviving
Adjective
  • Moore’s frayed, full-volume, Barbie-pink ball gown with a distressed bow was a break from her usual structured looks.
    — Beatrice Dupuy, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Warming the roof of the mouth—for example, by pressing the tongue against the palate or drinking a room-temperature beverage—can hasten recovery from brain freeze by allowing blood vessels and sensory nerves to return to their usual state.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of usual
Adjective
  • That could be a sign of things to come as the Rays’ first-round selection (28th overall) in the 2021 draft was playing some second base at Triple-A Durham.
    — Tom Layberger, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The new Vista Point complex will add 193 independent living units, 72 assisted living residences, an indoor pool, performing arts auditorium, art studio and more, and ultimately will boost Fairview’s overall population to nearly 600.
    — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of overall
Verb
  • Beginning Friday, and lasting into next weekend and beyond, a pattern change will set in, bringing a September feel to the Northeast that will feature much lower humidity levels, and highs in the upper 70s to low 80s.
    — Matthew Villafane, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Verlander spent just one season with the Giants in 2025 but left a lasting impact on Webb.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of lasting
Adjective
  • By adjusting the electron-trapping layer, the researchers could tune the device’s current recovery time across an approximately fivefold range.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Though the current main building was erected in 1902, part of the Old City Hall, which dates to 1845, was incorporated into it.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of current

Browse Nearby Words

prevailed (upon)
prevailing
prevailing (on or upon)
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Cite this Entry

“Prevailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prevailing. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of prevailing for Spanish Speakers

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