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English speakers borrowed pervade in the mid-17th century from Latin pervadere, meaning "to go through." Pervadere, in turn, was formed by combining the prefix per-, meaning "through," with the verb vadere, meaning "to go." Synonyms of pervade include permeate, impregnate, and saturate. Pervade stresses a spreading diffusion throughout every part of a whole ("art and music pervade every aspect of their lives"). Permeate implies diffusion specifically throughout a material thing ("the smell of freshly baked bread permeated the house"). Impregnate suggests a forceful influence or effect on something throughout ("impregnate the cotton with alcohol"). Saturate is used when nothing more may be taken up or absorbed ("the cloth is saturated with water").
Examples of pervade in a Sentence
Clay Stauffer, Nashville Tennessean, 25 Dec. 2025
Tradition pervades much of the experience—from the collection of saunas ranging from Finnish to classic Turkish bath to the cavernous indoor pool where a roaring fire blazes.
—Jackie Caradonio, Travel + Leisure, 23 Dec. 2025
Fear now pervades the refugee community, Fanning said.
—Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 23 Dec. 2025
The laws are in response to AI that already pervades everyday life.
—CBS News, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pervade
Cite this Entry
“Pervade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pervade. Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.
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