prepotent
Americanadjective
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preeminent in power, authority, or influence; predominant.
a prepotent name in the oil business.
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Genetics. noting, pertaining to, or having prepotency.
adjective
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greater in power, force, or influence
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biology showing prepotency
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of prepotent
1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin praepotent- (stem of praepotēns ), present participle of praeposse to have greater power. See pre-, potent 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Without these most prepotent needs met, people do not even get an opportunity for further growth as a human.
From Scientific American ● Sep. 24, 2017
Perhaps not since the full-blown Garbo has the old world offered to the new such a prepotent image of the eternal feminine as can be seen in the mysteriously soulful face of Maria Schell.
From Time Magazine Archive
Sheep have a similar latent tendency to become dark-coloured, and we have seen with what prepotent force a ram with a few black spots, when crossed with sheep of various breeds, coloured its offspring.
From The Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication, Volume II (of 2) by Charles Darwin
Then, in the third generation, they re-appear in the grand-daughter; by power of a maternal contribution in which the female inherence is prepotent.
From Feminism and Sex-Extinction by Arabella Kenealy
Why is it that the longings, the hopes, the disappointments, the desperate aspirations, and the passionate loves of little human hearts should cause to their possessors such prepotent commotions, such poignant qualms?
From Hints for Lovers by T. Arnold (Theodore Arnold) Haultain
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