as in suffusing
to spread throughout
the delicious scent of roasting turkey pervaded the house
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 pervading
If there’s cleverness to the way Lindsay-Abaire keeps passing the buck of hypocrisy between the members of the neighborhood association, there’s also a pervading sense of decorum that limits how far the satire can go.
—
Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2026
Their season is very much not effectively over, even if that narrative risks pervading the wider psyche.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2026
How much is the question of mass appeal, or tentpole culture, pervading publishing at the moment?
—Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 4 Nov. 2025
Man, if the vibe of the late Sixties and the early Seventies was the pervading spirit of the day, then let peace and love win!
—Jay Glennie, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2025
Kirk's death also comes at a time when free speech issues are pervading college campuses around the country and prompting fierce debate among school leaders about how best to respond.
—Brieanna J. Frank, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2026
Their season is very much not effectively over, even if that narrative risks pervading the wider psyche.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2026
How much is the question of mass appeal, or tentpole culture, pervading publishing at the moment?
—Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 4 Nov. 2025
Man, if the vibe of the late Sixties and the early Seventies was the pervading spirit of the day, then let peace and love win!
—Jay Glennie, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2025
Kirk's death also comes at a time when free speech issues are pervading college campuses around the country and prompting fierce debate among school leaders about how best to respond.
—Brieanna J. Frank, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pervading
Verb
-
Your energetic 5th house hosts the meeting of Mercury and Pluto, suffusing your hobbies with cosmic delight.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Rafiq suspected that the anxiety suffusing the market had made any pickpockets unlikely to be scoping out potential shoppers.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
What else is going on The teenager who singer D4vd is charged with killing died of multiple penetrating injuries before someone amputated her legs, arms and two of her fingers.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Archaeologists used ground-penetrating radar in compliance with federal regulations requiring agencies to consider impacts on historic properties, the announcement added.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The project was about permeating the masses, gradually lulling them with propaganda.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Brownlee, too, acknowledged the sense of anxiety permeating her team of climbers.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pervading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pervading. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
