: 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
Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, Denver Post, 15 Apr. 2025
The six-month contract role is a response to complaints from restaurant owners and chefs, many of whom have derided the city’s system of inspections and applications as lengthy and piecemeal.
—Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 16 May 2025
Rita Numerof, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
Ironically enough, the #Resistance that replaced Trump in 2021 largely kept his tariff regime in place, with piecemeal exemptions for the U.K., Japan, and the European Union.
—Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for piecemeal
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Adverb
Confirmation of the whereabouts of deportees has been piecemeal, with advocacy groups, lawyers and news organizations sporadically releasing names and locations based on available information.
—Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, Denver Post, 15 Apr. 2025
The six-month contract role is a response to complaints from restaurant owners and chefs, many of whom have derided the city’s system of inspections and applications as lengthy and piecemeal.
—Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 16 May 2025
Adjective
And over time, these piecemeal adjustments have created a system so complex that even well-meaning changes produce unintended negative consequences.
—Rita Numerof, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
Ironically enough, the #Resistance that replaced Trump in 2021 largely kept his tariff regime in place, with piecemeal exemptions for the U.K., Japan, and the European Union.
—Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 6 June 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 27 Jun. 2025.
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