1
as in accumulation
a mass or quantity that has piled up or that has been gathered over a period of time
a thick accretion of ice in a freezer that obviously had not been cleaned for some time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in increase
something added (as by growth)
accretions of lime have thickened the cave's stalactites and stalagmites over the centuries
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of accretion
In Worcester County, the main impact will be ice accretion.
—
Terry Eliasen, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2026
His concurring opinion in the tariffs case may become the Roberts Court’s most influential statement on how to prevent the steady accretion of executive power.
—Jeffrey Rosen, The Atlantic, 25 Feb. 2026
There’s also the potential for a trace of ice accretion.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 17 Feb. 2026
The two women’s stories crystallize only gradually in the course of the feature, through the accretion of tiny details that, like the arrival of the hostess in the first shot, emerge amid a profusion of related distractions.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for accretion
Terry Eliasen, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2026
His concurring opinion in the tariffs case may become the Roberts Court’s most influential statement on how to prevent the steady accretion of executive power.
—Jeffrey Rosen, The Atlantic, 25 Feb. 2026
There’s also the potential for a trace of ice accretion.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 17 Feb. 2026
The two women’s stories crystallize only gradually in the course of the feature, through the accretion of tiny details that, like the arrival of the hostess in the first shot, emerge amid a profusion of related distractions.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for accretion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for accretion
Noun
-
Shange’s rainbow assemblage manages to be confrontational and conciliatory through a confessional accumulation that collapses poetry, movement, and ritual into a single and ever-changing event.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 May 2026
-
And one thing Deb, who spent decades prioritizing the accumulation of money over the refinement of her craft, has learned from collaborating with Ava is that, in the end, art matters more to her than business.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
That was the largest increase in the plant’s more than 30-year history, records show.—
Jason Henry,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
-
Since 2019, the National Poison Data System has fielded a nearly 1,500% increase in calls related to overdoses or side effects from injectable weight loss drugs.—
Maia Rosenfeld,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Multiple copies of Howl, Kaddish, and assembled collections of complete verse lined (and still line) my bookshelves.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
-
Local touches were everywhere, from an extensive collection of books ranging from South African chick-lit to memoirs of Nelson Mandela, Trevor Noah, and Siya Kolisi to a mini-bar stocked with gin, rum, and brandy made with Cape Fynbos plants.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
Each productivity gain becomes a fresh opportunity for business owners to maximize their own gains while using the same technology to further control their employees.—
Christopher Marquis,
Time,
30 May 2026
-
In facilities processing millions of parcels each day, even small gains in efficiency can translate into significant operational and economic advantages.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
In addition to the all-hours gym, there is a squash court for those who want to practice their serve.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
Pulte will remain as chairman of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and FHFA director in addition to acting as national intelligence director.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Other recent call-ups, like Nick Sogard and Mickey Gasper, have also given the lineup a boost.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
30 May 2026
-
Dell said Thursday that its server unit had gotten a massive boost from widening AI adoption, challenging analysts’ assessment that demand for the business was already reflected in the stock price.—
Liz Napolitano,
CNBC,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Accretion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accretion. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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