as in widespread
existing in every part of something; spreading to all parts of something
A pervasive smell filled the room. the pervasive nature of the problem
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Recent Examples of pervasive
The tension is that the scientific evidence of a pervasive public-health problem caused directly by social media is nowhere near as strong as the popular feeling about its obviousness.
—
Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2025
But meeting bloat remains pervasive.
—Sarah Jackson, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2025
History, spirituality, and the law collide as tribal repatriation specialists fight to return and rebury Indigenous human remains, offering a revealing look at the still-pervasive worldviews that justified collecting them in the first place.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 10 Dec. 2025
What defined my relationship to writing now was a pervasive sense of anxiety.
—Literary Hub, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pervasive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pervasive
Adjective
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The fertilizers engorged the Everglades on nutrients, especially phosphorus, leading to the widespread proliferation of cattails.—
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Amid widespread corruption under Chávez, as journalist Anne Appelbaum noted in a 2024 book, hundreds of billions of dollars were siphoned off from PDVSA and other Venezuelan companies and subsequently disappeared into private bank accounts around the world.—
Adjective
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After setting a new standard for the organization in 2025, general manager Dan Morgan, head coach Dave Canales and their respective staffs need to raise the bar even higher.—
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Daniel McFadin is a general assignment reporter who has been with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette since October 2022.—
Adjective
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Though the journalists were released within hours, the National Press Workers’ Union issued a poignant statement denouncing the fact that twenty-three of their members were still behind bars, and that censorship remained prevalent in Venezuela.—
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International transfers are increasingly prevalent, and payment solutions are more accessible.—
Adjective
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The knit top offered the familiar ease of an oversized tee with the warmth and polish of a sweater, a mix that feels both cozy and refined.—
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Experts say some familiar nutrition advice remains, but the changes may raise questions and confusion.—
Adjective
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The monthly stochastic oscillator remains in overbought territory ( > 80%), underscoring the strength of the prevailing bullish trend rather than signaling exhaustion.—
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As municipal pools became mixed-gender in the 1920s and ’30s, swimming naked no longer fit prevailing notions of decency.—
Cite this Entry
“Pervasive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pervasive. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.
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