preponderant

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 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 With preponderant influence in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen, Iran is the regional power that has best been able to take advantage of the crisis in the Middle East. F. Gregory Gause Iii, Foreign Affairs, 22 Feb. 2022 Or, even preponderant effect, seeing as how there will be dilution of the genetic signal along the wave of advance. Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 19 Jan. 2010 In some regions, obviously Europe itself, but in much of North America, southern South America, parts of southern Africa, and Australia and New Zealand, people of European descent became demographically preponderant. Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 3 Jan. 2012 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 But last week in PLoS ONE a paper looking at the patterns of ancestry in the Brazilian population came to a somewhat inverseconclusion as to the self-conception or perception of the preponderant racial identity of that nation. Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 25 Feb. 2011 Our prior expectation should be that the admixture is non-trivial, though not preponderant. Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 23 Apr. 2012
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preponderant
Adjective
  • Othering is a social phenomenon where individuals or groups are perceived and treated as fundamentally different from a dominant or in-group.
    Julie Kratz, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
  • The largest outer square can reflect the dominant wall or upholstery color (60%), the mid-tone middle square can be used for key furniture pieces or millwork (30%), and the smallest inner square makes for perfect accents—think pillows, art, or a bold door color (10%).
    Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Everything is very primitive, but quite typical of the Russians.
    Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
  • How does that conversation go when the damage is beyond the typical wear and tear?
    Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The Jewish faith is predominant throughout the musical — references to certain prayers are made, Yiddish phrases are baked into the dialogue, and many Jewish traditions are brought to life on stage.
    Carolina del Busto, Sun Sentinel, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Practical implications In practice, much of the federal government’s day to day functioning will likely remain the same since English is already the predominant language used in the country, experts said.
    Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • And the comic books that featured them were often used as metaphors for social issues (the X-Men, for example, were representative of discrimination).
    Marc Berman, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
  • In Alaska and New Mexico, for example, the average retiree benefit is more than $100 greater than each state’s median payment, which tends to be more representative of each place’s retiree population.
    Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 18 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Preponderant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preponderant. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

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