ascendancy

or as·cend·en·cy

[ uh-sen-duhn-see ]

noun

1. the state of being in the ascendant; governing or controlling influence; domination.

   Synonyms: supremacy, sovereignty, preeminence, predominance, hegemony, dominion, dominance

ascendancy

/ əˈsɛndəns; əˈsɛndənsɪ /

noun

1. the condition of being dominant, esp through superior economic or political power

Other Words From

• nonas·cendance noun
• nonas·cendan·cy noun
• nonas·cendence noun
• nonas·cenden·cy noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of ascendancy¹

First recorded in 1705–15; ascend(ant) + -ancy

Example Sentences

Released on June 4, the ascendancy of country newcomer Walker Hayes’s “Fancy Like” has been the definition of meteoric.

From Eater

In the first instance, given the nature of the evacuation during a period of enormous volatility following the collapse of the Afghan government and the ascendancy of the Taliban, an attack precisely like these was expected.

From The Daily Beast

Timing being what it was, Leonardo was just a little late in his ascendancy to be a part of this Olympics.

From Outside Online

In the long run, the continued ascendancy of programmatic is all but inevitable.

From Digiday

“What most stands out to me about the American Rescue Plan is that it points to the ascendancy of certain ideas in the national discussion and the fading of others,” progressive author Anand Giridharadas wrote recently.

From FiveThirtyEight

My golden age comes to a halt with the ascendancy of music videos.

From The Daily Beast

Their ascendancy corresponded with a moment of increased lesbian visibility and so-called lesbian chic.

From The Daily Beast

Blues fan certainly can celebrate the ascendancy of these promising young artists.

From The Daily Beast

But even as Gunther was writing, the region had begun a gradual ascendancy, now in its seventh decade.

From The Daily Beast

In truth, the Cameron-Osborne-Johnson ascendancy represents not a continuation of aristocratic rule, rather a restoration.

From The Daily Beast

He acquired such an ascendancy over the king that he was himself the monarch more than 30 years.

From Project Gutenberg

Again he felt the man's ascendancy over him, knew that he was swayed and moulded by a personality stronger than his own.

From Project Gutenberg

Before long Savary was hated and abused by the public, the more because he maintained his ascendancy over the Czar.

From Project Gutenberg

She knew how high his standard of honor was, but how would he end if his unfortunate trait gained more ascendancy over him?

From Project Gutenberg

So much the more creditable to Bunyan the ascendancy he gained.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• dominance
• predominance