as in cumulative
produced by a series of additions of identical or similar things
certain drugs have additive effects when taken in conjunction with each other that one doesn't see when any one is used alone
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in subsidiary
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of additive
Emmanuella Ogbonna,
Health,
17 June 2026
The takeaway is that these factors are additive.
—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
13 June 2026
Scott K. Johnson,
ArsTechnica,
15 May 2026
Compost is the single best additive available for improving any soil type.
—
Emily Leahy,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for additive
Adjective
Some supplements, such as melatonin, L-theanine, and tryptophan, may have an additive or synergistic effect on sleep when taken with magnesium.
—
Emmanuella Ogbonna,
Health,
17 June 2026
The takeaway is that these factors are additive.
—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
13 June 2026
Noun
Iron, magnesium, and aluminum could also be separated and recovered, and leftover silicate material can serve as the additive for Portland cement instead of something like coal ash.
—
Scott K. Johnson,
ArsTechnica,
15 May 2026
Compost is the single best additive available for improving any soil type.
—
Emily Leahy,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for additive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for additive
Adjective
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The World Health Organization projects that uncontrolled resistance could impose more than one trillion dollars in cumulative healthcare costs by 2050 — a burden falling on systems already stretched to capacity.
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Hair follicle health was checked using the Trichogram test and the FotoFinder system, which tracks hair density, follicular unit count and cumulative hair thickness.
Noun
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The funds raised will be used to pare the debt of the company’s subsidiary, Reliance Jio Infocomm, which is India’s largest wireless operator.
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Boeing subsidiary Aurora Flight Sciences has begun installing the wings on the X-65, an experimental drone developed under DARPA’s Control of Revolutionary Aircraft with Novel Effectors (CRANE) program.
Noun
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The film, released as an accompaniment to the band’s 2017 album, Spirit, is a curious reminder of the path music takes after it’s released into the world.
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Perhaps a tool gift would be the perfect accompaniment.
Noun
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According to Littley, a common mistake among home cooks is neglecting how the pasta and sauce complement each other.
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Research in Management Science finds AI complements domain expertise rather than replacing it, creating the most value when the person interpreting the output already understands the problem.
Noun
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There’s scepticism around how effective supplements and vitamins like magnesium and collagen actually are, experts and nutritionists previously told CNBC.
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Some older research suggests high calcium intake can reduce zinc absorption, but this effect appears most relevant with calcium supplements, not typical dairy foods.
Cite this Entry
“Additive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/additive. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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