preponderant

American  

[pri-pon-der-uhnt] / prɪˈpɒn dər ənt /

adjective

1. superior in weight, force, influence, numbers, etc.; prevailing.

   a preponderant misconception.

   Synonyms:

   dominant, major, overpowering

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preponderant British  

/ prɪˈpɒndərənt /

adjective

1. greater in weight, force, influence, etc

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Other Word Forms

• preponderantly adverb

Etymology

Origin of preponderant

1650–60; < Latin praeponderant- (stem of praeponderāns ), present participle of praeponderāre to outweigh. See pre-, ponder, -ant

Example Sentences

Nations with preponderant military strength tend to fall into this trap when swatting a smaller power, especially when the latter turns out to be more determined or have more at stake.

From Slate • Aug. 2, 2021

The balance of the estate went to charities that had as their goal controlling the growth of population that he saw as the preponderant threat to the world.

From Golf Digest • Apr. 8, 2020

In Britain, England was always the preponderant partner.

From Economist • Jul. 12, 2018

"We have to recover the presence of a pope in this preponderant area of humanity," Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said.

From Reuters • Jan. 10, 2015

It seems fairly clear that if self-destruction is not the overwhelmingly preponderant fate of galactic civilizations, then the sky is softly humming with messages from the stars.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan