PREPONDERANT Synonyms: 33 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

preponderant

adjective

Definition of preponderant next

as in dominant

formal greater in number, force, or importance A preponderant number of visitors are from outside the country.

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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

Examples 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 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 The authors have no explanation for the apparent lack of awareness for this widely preponderant syndrome and its severe cosmetically disfiguring potential. —

Ncbi Rofl, Discover Magazine, 12 Feb. 2013 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

If Gere, playing the same character in old age, weren’t such a dominant and charismatic presence, Elordi would be the movie’s lead.

— Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2025
Rick Barnes’ defense looks almost as dominant as Auburn’s offense — third in points allowed per game, opponents absolutely last in 3-point percentage.

— Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025