Skip to content
GREMockTests
GRE vocabulary

pervasive

adjectiveHigh-frequency wordMore P words

spreading widely and present throughout something

Word origin: From Latin pervadere, to spread through.

In a sentence

Pervasive in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing pervasive in a sentence.

A pervasive sense of distrust gradually undermined the partnership.

A pervasive distrust of institutions colored every response in the survey.

Synonyms
Antonyms
rarescarcelimited
Usage & nuance

Using “pervasive” well

Pervasive describes something that seeps into and is present throughout a whole, often used of moods, influences, or assumptions.

Common questions

Questions about “pervasive

Pervasive (adjective) means spreading widely and present throughout something
Here is pervasive used in an example sentence: "A pervasive sense of distrust gradually undermined the partnership." Another example: "A pervasive distrust of institutions colored every response in the survey."
Common synonyms for pervasive include widespread, ubiquitous, prevalent, rampant.
Antonyms of pervasive include rare, scarce, limited.
On the GRE, pervasive clusters with widespread, ubiquitous, prevalent, and rampant, opposing rare, scarce, and limited.
Yes. Pervasive is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

Learn words the way the GRE tests them.

Vocabulary sticks when you meet it in real sentences. Practise these words inside text completion and sentence equivalence questions.