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prepotency

prepotency

9.9
A situation where a person or group has more power than others
  • noun
  • /ˌpriːˈpoʊtənsɪ/
  • Formal
translation icon : predominancia
  • Thus, Cortázar's story transgresses its male assumptions of prepotency as it exposes its lack of control over the feminine consciousness, which finally dethrones the male narrator.

Examples

  • The prepotency of the leader's ideas convinced everyone to follow his vision.

  • In the competition, her talent gave her a prepotency that no one else could match.

  • The prepotency of sunlight allows plants to thrive and grow quickly.

Synonyms

preponderance
vsprepotency
19 8.4

One thing that is larger in number, amount, or importance than another

focuses on power and influence rather than mere numerical quantity or amount
preeminence
vsprepotency
4 7.9

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

highlights greater power and influence rather than quality or achievement
predominance
vsprepotency
3 6.1

One thing being more important or more common than others

stresses power and influence more than frequency or commonness
predomination
vsprepotency
8.6

One thing that is more powerful or common than others

focuses on being greater in power or influence rather than sole dominance

Antonyms

17 5.1

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

Being in a lower position under someone else's control

How Powerful

supremacy
53 7.1
dominance
81 5.1
prepotency
  • Formal
9.9
predominance
3 6.1
influence
806 2.3

Surface Forms

prepotency singular
prepotencies plural

Morphology

prepotency = prepotent (semi-transparent) = pre + potent + cy

The noun is a regular derivation from the adjective 'prepotent' (+ -cy), but 'pre-' in this word does not carry the usual temporal 'before' sense and the adjective is relatively rare, so learners may not fully predict the meaning.

Etymology

Prepotency comes from the parts pre- 'before' and potent 'powerful', the same root you see in potent. So, prepotency is the state of being 'before' others in power, influence, or importance.