: done, made, or accomplished piece by piece or in a fragmentary way
piecemeal reforms in the system
Examples of piecemeal in a Sentence
Adverb
remodeled their house piecemeal because of budgetary constraints
one well-aimed blow ripped the piñata piecemeal
Adjective
They've done piecemeal repairs in the past, but the bridge now needs major reconstruction.
Some people want the changes to be made all at once, but I think we should take a more piecemeal approach.
Recent Examples on the Web
Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
The story of four teenagers, best friends for a special summer, unwinds piecemeal through their recollections 25 years later.
—The Know, Denver Post, 10 Aug. 2025
Special To The Denver Post, Denver Post, 31 Aug. 2025
While the city denied the specific application, Zuckerberg ultimately proceeded gradually, undertaking similar work in a piecemeal fashion to avoid further regulatory hurdles.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for piecemeal
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Adverb
With the 2026 budget in the balance, the office hopes to add attorneys, investigators and a firearms specialist to a crop of existing personnel that would be consolidated centrally, rather than allocated piecemeal across the office, according to staff.
—Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
The story of four teenagers, best friends for a special summer, unwinds piecemeal through their recollections 25 years later.
—The Know, Denver Post, 10 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Native plants can be added to the landscape piecemeal or in a landscape overhaul.
—Special To The Denver Post, Denver Post, 31 Aug. 2025
While the city denied the specific application, Zuckerberg ultimately proceeded gradually, undertaking similar work in a piecemeal fashion to avoid further regulatory hurdles.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for piecemeal
Cite this Entry
“Piecemeal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/piecemeal. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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