WordValepervasive
spreading widely throughout
In more detail
1. (adjective) spreading widely throughout something or affecting many people or places
2. (adjective) present or noticeable everywhere
Examples
- 1. The pervasive use of smartphones has changed how people communicate.
- 2. There was a pervasive smell of smoke in the building after the fire.
How to use pervasive
Pervasive describes something that is spread throughout a large area or many parts of a group, often with an implication that it is difficult to escape or avoid. It is commonly used in formal and academic contexts to discuss negative phenomena (corruption, discrimination) or cultural/social patterns, though it can be neutral. It emphasizes the extent and penetration of something rather than its intensity.
Common phrases
- pervasive influence
- pervasive problem
- pervasive sense
- pervasive throughout
- pervasive culture
- pervasive atmosphere
Synonyms
ubiquitous · widespread · prevalent · omnipresent · rampant
Opposites
rare · localized · isolated
Word family
pervasively (adverb) · pervasiveness (noun) · pervade (verb)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse pervasive with perverse (meaning deliberately contrary or wicked); they sound similar but have entirely different meanings.
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