CUMULATIVE Synonyms: 21 Similar and Opposite Words

cumulative

adjective

ˈkyü-myə-lə-tiv

Definition of cumulative

as in accumulative

produced by a series of additions of identical or similar things a cumulative weight gain of 20 pounds over the course of a year

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of cumulative If economic spying were added to the mix, the cumulative impact of this effort would be significantly enhanced. — David S. Cohen, Foreign Affairs, 8 Oct. 2026 The court sentenced Alongkot to a cumulative 742 years in prison, while Seksan received more than 386 years, but those sentences were automatically reduced to the legal maximum of 50 years. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026 That album now has 13 cumulative weeks in the top position there. — Chris Willman, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026 How to find cumulative coherence and meaning where none are intended? — Brian Seibert, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cumulative

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cumulative

Adjective

The choice of Miami Beach as the festival’s long-term home is less accidental than accumulative.

— Desjah Altvater, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
According to a new paper, published in the Journal of Geophysical Research, accumulative stresses in the Earth’s crust in California are higher today than at any point over the last 1,000 years, raising concerns over the potential for a massive rupture in the Los Angeles region.

— Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 10 June 2026

Definition of accumulative

Adjective

First and foremost, red diesel originates from the same underlying US diesel pool and does not represent net additive refining capacity.

— , CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
The team stated that commercial success will depend on precisely balancing additive placement, pore structure, and chemical concentration.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of additive

Adjective

That included a requirement that officials could only pull state and local incremental sales tax revenues produced by the development, and its immediate surrounding area, to help pay off debt taken out to build it.

— Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 9 Oct. 2026
And so began the incremental process of finding these June-like patients in the global haystack of humanity.

— Deepa Fernandes, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of incremental

Adjective

As high pressure and a ridge move in behind the departing system on Monday, there will be some early morning showers followed by gradual clearing into the afternoon and evening.

— Trey Fulbright, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
Filmed largely in natural daylight, the film drifts between still, unhurried, panning shots to evoke not only the spiritual energy that keeps the temples humming but also a world in slow, gradual decay.

— Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of gradual

Browse Nearby Words

cumulations

cumulative

cumulativeness

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“Cumulative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cumulative. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of cumulative

adjective

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