accumulative

adjective

ac·​cu·​mu·​la·​tive ə-ˈkyü-m(y)ə-ˌlā-tiv  -lə- 

1

: cumulative

an age of rapid and accumulative change

2

: tending or given to accumulation

accumulatively adverb

accumulativeness noun

Synonyms of accumulative

• cumulative

Examples of accumulative in a Sentence

The accumulative effect of his injuries forced him to retire.

the accumulative effect of all her worries was to seriously undermine her health

Recent Examples on the Web

The accumulative stress in that area. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2026

The heat is accumulative but not terribly aggressive in spice, and the bits of water chestnut offer freshness and crunch. — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 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

The choice of Miami Beach as the festival’s long-term home is less accidental than accumulative. — Desjah Altvater, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

accumulate + -ive

First Known Use

1641, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for accumulative

• accommodative
• adjudicative
• administrative
• affiliative
• agglutinative
• ameliorative
• appreciative
• assimilative
• associative
• authoritative
• collaborative
• cooperative