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ascendency

ascendency

1 7.8
To have power or control over others
  • noun
  • /əˈsɛndənsi/
translation icon : dominancia
  • The company's ascendency in the market was due to its innovative products and strong leadership.
  • gained ascendency

Examples

  • Israeli policy is fairly recent and can be linked to neo-con ascendency.

    Blog text (20)
  • In different times and places, different ideals of the philosopher have gained ascendency.

    Academic text (2011)
  • It may be that, at times, one god gains ascendency over another.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Ford and Chrysler had periods of ascendency.

    Blog text (14)
  • We have no idea the greatness that might be ours if we fully embrace the ascendency.

    Blog text (18)
  • Primarily the ascendency of new totalitarian groups is due to natural disasters, economic collapse, or even war.

    Blog text (14)
  • Moreover, she critiques the ascendency of whiteness that other critics of Lawrence leave unexamined.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Unfortunately, in the USA, Dominionism (look it up on Google or other sites) is in the ascendency in some 'evangelical' and other conservative Protestant circles.

    Blog text (3)
  • In modern society, another form of knowing, episteme, or factual knowledge, has gained ascendency that, while investing the expert with exaggerated authority, tends to devalue personal experience.

    Academic text (1996)
  • The results of the assembly elections, therefore, correspond closely to those of the gubernatorial and mayoral elections, showing clear signs of the decline of the KMT's grip on power, as well as signs of the continuing ascendency of the opposition influence in general and the DPP in particular.

    Academic text (1996)

Synonyms

power
vsascendency
3.4

Ability to control people or events

stresses dominance and superiority rather than the general ability to act
control
vsascendency
2.8

Ability to direct your body or its parts so they move as you want

highlights the idea of superiority and dominance over other people
domination
vsascendency
102 4.7

To have power or control over other people

emphasizes the overall condition of superiority rather than the act itself
dominance
vsascendency
81 5.1

Power and control over other people or groups

focuses more on general superiority and influence rather than pure control
clout
vsascendency
73 5.3

Power and influence in business or politics

is broader, covering general dominance and superiority beyond specific sectors
supremacy
vsascendency
53 7.1

Being higher than others in power or importance

is about having influence and control rather than being the absolute top
hegemony
vsascendency
  • Formal
18 9.5

Power of one country or group over others

is a wider idea of personal or group dominance and superiority
ascendancy
vsascendency
9 8.2

A position of power over other people or groups

is the same meaning but is an alternative spelling form
preeminence
vsascendency
4 7.9

Being better than others in an area, like skill or success

concerns social power and control rather than superiority in quality
ascendance
vsascendency
3 8.0

Power or influence over other people

is the same idea expressed with a different spelling form
ascendant
vsascendency
1 7.8

A situation when one person or group has more power and influence

expresses the same dominance idea but as a positional adjective form
ascendence
vsascendency
9.0

Having power over other people or groups

means the same but appears as another spelling variant
powerfulness
vsascendency
3.7

Great strength or influence that affects others

focuses more on social dominance and control over other people
potestate
vsascendency
  • Archaic
9.9

Power to control people or places

is similar but frames the idea as general dominance and superiority
paramountcy
vsascendency
  • Formal
9.9

The state of having the highest power or importance

highlights control or influence rather than exclusive supreme status
overlordship
vsascendency
9.9

A ruler's supreme control over other rulers and lands

covers general influence and control rather than historic or feudal rule

Antonyms

17 5.1

A state of being lower than others in ability, status or value

3 7.2

Acting to help a plan or goal rather than choosing for yourself

How Influential

supremacy
53 7.1
dominance
81 5.1
ascendency
1 7.8
influence
806 2.3

Surface Forms

ascendency singular
ascendencies plural

Morphology

ascendency = ascend (semi-transparent) = ascend + ency

Formed from 'ascend' + the noun-forming suffix '-ency', but the meaning 'dominance' is a metaphorical extension of 'rising'.

Etymology

Ascendency comes from the same root as ascend and ascent, from an old Latin word ascendere meaning 'to climb'. So imagine someone climbing above others — being higher gives them control, which is why ascendency means having power or influence.