piecemeal

¹piece·meal

adv \ˈpēs-ˌmēl, -ˈmēl\

Definition of PIECEMEAL

1

: one piece at a time : gradually

2

: in pieces or fragments : apart

Examples of PIECEMEAL

1. <remodeled their house piecemeal because of budgetary constraints>
2. <one well-aimed blow ripped the piñata piecemeal>

First Known Use of PIECEMEAL

14th century

Related to PIECEMEAL

Synonyms: gradationally, inchmeal, little by little, piece by piece, gradually

Antonyms: abruptly, suddenly

Related Words: hierarchically; crescively, increasingly, progressively; fractionally, imperceptibly; slowly

Near Antonyms: acutely, sharply, steeply; hastily, precipitously

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with PIECEMEAL

aiguille, all-wheel, anneal, appeal, big deal, big wheel, bilge keel, bonemeal, bonspiel, cam wheel, Castile, cartwheel, chainwheel, chenille, cogwheel, conceal, congeal, cornmeal, done deal, eared seal, enwheel, fifth wheel, fish meal, flywheel, forefeel, for real, four-wheel, freewheel, fur seal, genteel, get real, good deal, great seal, handwheel, harp seal, ideal, inchmeal, mild steel, mill wheel, misdeal, mobile, Mobile, monk seal, mouthfeel, New Deal, newsreel, nosewheel, oatmeal, O'Neal, pastille, pinwheel, prayer wheel, raw deal, repeal, reveal, schlemiel, self-heal, side-wheel, singspiel, somedeal, spike heel, stabile, tahsil, Tar Heel, thumbwheel, unreel, unseal, worm wheel