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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").
Synonyms
Examples of pervade in a Sentence
Chloe Berger, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2024
That’s a joy that pervades the book, despite a subplot involving an illicit romance that ends in tragedy.
—Chelsea Leu, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2024
With a haunting soundtrack and precise, brooding cinematography, Argento creates a chillingly grimy atmosphere that pervades every frame.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 27 Mar. 2024
The visuals pair well with the feral, mischievous energy that pervades the record.
—Beverly Bryan, Rolling Stone, 22 Mar. 2024
But as the former president tries to establish himself as the one, true Republican leader, religious overtones have pervaded his third presidential campaign.
—Michael C. Bender, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2024
The campaign in the courts reflects a growing bipartisan consensus concerned about the power of sprawling tech companies whose products and services pervade the lives of everyday Americans, experts told ABC News.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 22 Mar. 2024
Unlike human homes, the birdhouses go unpainted, adding to the pervading sense of melancholy.
—Muktita Suhartono Nyimas Laula, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024
Surely, blues, soul, R&B, and gospel music pervaded my life growing up in the urban landscape of a very Black Memphis.
—Kimberly Bryant, Essence, 29 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pervade.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Pervade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pervade. Accessed 5 May. 2024.
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