Pervasive
mediumper-VAY-siv
adjective
Definition
Spreading widely throughout an area or group of people
Examples
“There is a pervasive sense of anxiety in the community.”
“The pervasive influence of social media affects modern communication.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Categories
GRE Tip
Pervasive is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "widespread" or "prevalent" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "rare".
Related GRE Words
ubiquitous
Present, appearing, or found everywhere
rampant
Flourishing or spreading unchecked; unrestrained
widespread
Found or distributed over a large area or number of people
endemic
Regularly found among particular people or in a certain area
ephemeral
Lasting for a very short time; transitory
abate
To reduce in amount, degree, or intensity
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