pervasive
Spreading through everything
Pervasive describes something spread throughout, present everywhere within a space or system.
A pervasive smell fills every room.
Pervasive corruption infects all levels of an institution.
The word suggests thorough penetration rather than scattered presence: Social media's influence on youth culture is pervasive.
Unlike invasive, pervasive doesn't necessarily imply unwelcome intrusion—just thoroughness of presence.
Existing across many places
- everywhereIn all places
- omnipresentExisting everywhere at once
- prevalentCommonly occurring, widespread
- universalAffecting all equally
commonplace · endemic · ever-present · all-encompassing · inescapable · unavoidable · constant · rife
Firmly established, resistant to change
- ingrainedFirmly established by habit
- embeddedSet firmly within something
- deep-rootedFirmly and long established
- institutionalOf formal establishments
structural · endemic · built-in · inherent · underlying · fundamental · persistent · chronic
Passing into or through
- seepingFlowing slowly through
- creepingMoving slowly, stealthily
- insidiousSubtly destructive over time
- spreadingExtending over space
encroaching · suffusing · diffusing · filtering · leaching · worming · insinuating · interpenetrating
Most common or accepted
- predominantMost common or powerful
- overridingOf chief importance
- commandingExerting strong authority
- controllingExerting authority over others
powerful · influential · hegemonic · ascendant · ruling · governing · reigning · overarching
widespread
Existing across many places
- everywhereIn all places
- omnipresentExisting everywhere at once
- prevalentCommonly occurring, widespread
universal · commonplace · endemic · ever-present · all-encompassing · inescapable · unavoidable · constant · rife · general
entrenched
Firmly established, resistant to change
- ingrainedFirmly established by habit
- embeddedSet firmly within something
- deep-rootedFirmly and long established
institutional · structural · endemic · built-in · inherent · underlying · fundamental · persistent · chronic · intractable
penetrating
Passing into or through
spreading · encroaching · suffusing · diffusing · filtering · leaching · worming · insinuating · interpenetrating · soaking
prevailing
Most common or accepted
- predominantMost common or powerful
- overridingOf chief importance
- commandingExerting strong authority
controlling · powerful · influential · hegemonic · ascendant · ruling · governing · reigning · overarching · overwhelming
pervasivelocalized
Restricted to one place
contained · limited · confined · restricted · isolated
pervasiverare
Seldom found or seen
scarce · sparse · uncommon · infrequent · occasional
pervasivesuperficial
Lacking depth or substance
surface-level · shallow · slight · minimal · negligible