Questions about example sentences with, and the definition and usage of "Pervade"

A: It is similar to "spread."
For example, "the fishy smell pervaded the air in the kitchen."

A: I would say it's not a very common word and is mainly used in the past tense e.g.

The smell pervaded through the room

The smell is pervading through the room.

Another similar word which is more commonly used with a similar meaning is permeate

So you can say for example

A sense of fear permeated the atmosphere

A: I think there is a big difference.

To pervade is to spread through and to penetrate is to force a way into or through something.

“The reeking smell of alcohol pervaded the room.”
“The steel rod penetrated her chest, causing death.”

A: Pervade = enter into every part
He smell of his cologne pervades the whole room.
Prevail = win
We had different ideas about the project but my ideas prevailed.

A: the water saturated our clothes. The smell permeated the air.