as in accumulative
produced by a series of additions of identical or similar things a cumulative weight gain of 20 pounds over the course of a year

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cumulative Mulvaney avoids calling out enemies and presents herself as the passive subject of many events in her life — often deservedly so, in something like Beergate — but with a cumulative optimism that keeps her own psychology in reserve. Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2025 The cumulative toll is staggering. FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2025 These results, along with other research, suggest that there might be a cumulative harmful effect of repeat COVID-19 infections on the body, and scientists are trying to better understand those potential long-term effects. Alice Park, Time, 1 Oct. 2025 City officials are proposing cumulative 62% hikes to water rates and 31% hikes to sewer rates over four years — increases that would incrementally kick in between January 2026 and January 2029, if approved Tuesday. Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cumulative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cumulative
Adjective
  • Overall, the accumulative impact of cost pressures represents a 20% to 25% increase over the agency’s current long-range financial plan.
    Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 30 Aug. 2025
  • The accumulative effects of a whole comprised of many different foods with artificial dyes, consumed over a lifetime, is even harder to assess.
    Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Experts continue to tout warehouse robots as additive rather than replacements, but labor rights organizations and union organizers seem to have their doubts.
    Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 25 Sep. 2025
  • This deal is also additive to AI infrastructure trade, including industrial names like GE Vernova , which makes gas turbines that power data centers, and Eaton , which provides electrical equipment inside data centers.
    Paulina Likos, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The Robot Phone is not an incremental upgrade or new model.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Part of the overuse problem is that leaders use the term transformation to convey importance and urgency, even when the change is intentionally incremental or adaptive.
    Brené Brown, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Alfred Nobel’s vision of disarmament, by contrast, emphasizes the gradual reduction of armaments and the building of mutual trust between nations.
    Nina Græger, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
  • The immediate post-facial glow was noticeable, but the more gradual improvements came from regular, at-home use.
    Samantha Leal, StyleCaster, 9 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Cumulative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cumulative. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

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