predominant

adjective

pri-ˈdä-mə-nənt How to pronounce predominant (audio)
Definition of predominantnext
as in main
coming before all others in importance parental involvement has been found to be the predominant factor in a child's success in school

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of predominant are dominant, paramount, and preponderant. While all these words mean "superior to all others in influence or importance," predominant applies to something that exerts, often temporarily, the most marked influence.

a predominant emotion

When can dominant be used instead of predominant?

While in some cases nearly identical to predominant, dominant applies to something that is uppermost because ruling or controlling.

a dominant social class

When could paramount be used to replace predominant?

In some situations, the words paramount and predominant are roughly equivalent. However, paramount implies supremacy in importance, rank, or jurisdiction.

unemployment was the paramount issue in the campaign

In what contexts can preponderant take the place of predominant?

The words preponderant and predominant are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, preponderant applies to an element or factor that outweighs all others in influence or effect.

preponderant evidence in her favor

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 predominant If humans were to stop these actions, and if megafauna don’t become the predominant species again, forests could theoretically darken again and set the stage for larger seeds to make a reappearance. —Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 18 Feb. 2025 This is especially true for minority religions and sects, but even for practitioners of Islam, the region’s predominant faith. —Eric Freedman, The Conversation, 6 Feb. 2025 The basis for doing so is that English in this case is the predominant form of the words that were patterned on. —Lance Eliot, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025 Spirit is headquartered in Dania Beach and remains one of the predominant carriers at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. —David Lyons, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for predominant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for predominant
  1. main
  2. dominant
  3. primary
  4. foremost
  5. big
  6. leading
Adjective
  • As previously reported, this year’s main competition jury president will be Juliette Binoche, who will oversee the choosing of the Palme d’Or and other festival awards alongside a jury yet to be announced.
    — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The 9a's main camera takes 12MP images thanks to pixel binning, and the resulting shots are nearly identical to the Pixel 9 Pro's.
    — PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of main
Adjective
  • Alencar secured four of five takedown attempts and maintained 12:38 of control time en route to the dominant win.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Graduate guard Azzi Fudd, who scored just eight points in UConn’s Elite Eight win against USC, was equally dominant.
    — Grace Raynor, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of dominant
Adjective
  • Even when wives are the primary or sole earners, husbands' contributions to housework remain largely unchanged, increasing only slightly when wives are sole earners.
    — John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Apr. 2025
  • Algeria’s western neighbor and primary rival, Morocco, also received its first batch of Akinci drones in February 2025.
    — Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of primary
Adjective
  • Through them, the Chinese firm has persuaded the president to defend a tool wielded by America’s foremost foreign adversary.
    — The Editors, National Review, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders.
    — Tim Pratte, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of foremost
Adjective
  • Heading them is none other than Robert Keller, who wasn’t killed after all, and now blames his big bro for abandoning him.
    — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 11 Apr. 2025
  • If that were true, then, for instance, the pervasive corruption one sees in countries such as Hungary or Turkey, or things like demonetization in India, all of which looked pretty bad, would have led to big hits in terms of government popularity.
    — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of big
Adjective
  • Oil prices have been below $70/barrel since the end of February and lower oil prices are often seen as a leading indicator for economic demand.
    — JJ Kinahan, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
  • The film earned Boseman a posthumous win for best male actor in a leading role at the 2021 Screen Actors Guild Awards and his first Oscar nomination.
    — Sharareh Drury, People.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Definition of leading

Browse Nearby Words

predominancy
predominant
predominantly
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Cite this Entry

“Predominant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/predominant. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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