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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
Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 14 July 2025
Key Background Core inflation did not register at 3.9% or higher from 1993 to 2020, putting in perspective the continuously high inflation pervading the U.S. economy since the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Derek Saul, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025
Conceptual and aesthetic themes also pervade his framework.
—Jacoba Urist, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 June 2025
The deportations had triggered a pervading fear, Mr. Gurung said.
—Kurt Streeter, New York Times, 1 May 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 29 Jul. 2025.
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