as in incremental
proceeding or changing by steps or degrees
a gradual drop in gas prices will take place over the next several months
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Recent Examples of gradual
After all, job postings have been on a gradual decline since their peak in March 2022, according to data from the Federal Reserve.
—
Preston Fore, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2025
And, uh, there was a sort of gradual buildup to finding it.
—Deborah Unger, Scientific American, 5 Nov. 2025
Other local, regional, and international providers can move in to bolster a gradual process of reconstruction.
—Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025
This is partly because many states don’t immediately enforce legislation for all children, allowing for gradual phase-in periods.
—Anthony Bald, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gradual
Preston Fore, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2025
And, uh, there was a sort of gradual buildup to finding it.
—Deborah Unger, Scientific American, 5 Nov. 2025
Other local, regional, and international providers can move in to bolster a gradual process of reconstruction.
—Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025
This is partly because many states don’t immediately enforce legislation for all children, allowing for gradual phase-in periods.
—Anthony Bald, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gradual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gradual
Adjective
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But even incremental progress would mark a break from a status quo that shields the powerful while leaving the rest behind.—
Newsweek Contributors,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
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These incremental steps have helped the coffee chain stem a sales decline in China since earlier this year, with comparable sales returning to growth in the past two quarters.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Trump’s grandiose peace plan still ended up phased and conditional – granting the Israeli leader political leeway with his hardline coalition.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
11 Oct. 2025
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The plan calls for $19 million in phased infrastructure projects within five years.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gradual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gradual. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.
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