preponderant

Definition of preponderantnext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word preponderant different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of preponderant are dominant, paramount, and predominant. While all these words mean "superior to all others in influence or importance," preponderant applies to an element or factor that outweighs all others in influence or effect.

preponderant evidence in her favor

In what contexts can dominant take the place of preponderant?

In some situations, the words dominant and preponderant are roughly equivalent. However, dominant applies to something that is uppermost because ruling or controlling.

a dominant social class

When is it sensible to use paramount instead of preponderant?

The meanings of paramount and preponderant largely overlap; however, paramount implies supremacy in importance, rank, or jurisdiction.

unemployment was the paramount issue in the campaign

When would predominant be a good substitute for preponderant?

Although the words predominant and preponderant have much in common, predominant applies to something that exerts, often temporarily, the most marked influence.

a predominant emotion

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 preponderant American grand strategists also need to ask whether the country still benefits from being the preponderant provider of global public goods, such as freedom of navigation. Rebecca Lissner, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025 Market value was preponderant in determining the value of the piece of land that the state deemed worthy of expropriating. Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2025 But the preponderant migrants’ motivation has been, and continues to be, to provide a better life for their families. Bill Gray, The Mercury News, 12 Feb. 2025 The relevance and recent growth of regional Mexican music has become undeniable, and today, the genre holds a preponderant place within the industry. Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 16 Mar. 2023 Under federal law, race cannot be a preponderant motive in drawing a district, wrote Dr. Cervas, a fellow at Carnegie Mellon University. Jimmy Vielkind and Eliza Collins, WSJ, 21 May 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preponderant
Adjective
  • According to the Washington Post, there's currently about $200 million in political bets riding on the two dominant prediction platforms, Kalshi and Polymarket.
    Dana Taylor, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Dee Valladares is widely considered the most dominant winner in Survivor’s new era.
    Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • This is not your typical Aladdin’s Cave vintage shop, where rails are stacked on top of each other and garments fill every corner.
    Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
  • However, the expert warned that focusing on combat performance could push robot development away from typical industrial or service uses, because fighting requires extreme, short bursts of high-impact movement rather than steady, practical operation.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • But the predominant response has been one of welcome, support and encouragement.
    Will Barker, TheWeek, 10 Feb. 2026
  • For the past fifty years, the predominant theory held that our capacity to parse complicated syntax rested on specialized, innate faculties.
    Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Instead, the courts sorted the lawsuits into thematic groups with representative lead cases.
    Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 9 Feb. 2026
  • The stories below are in no way meant to be representative.
    Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 7 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Preponderant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preponderant. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on preponderant

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