as in incremental
proceeding or changing by steps or degrees
a gradual drop in gas prices will take place over the next several months
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 gradual
Brown rice contains more fiber and protein than white rice, which slows digestion and leads to a more gradual rise in blood sugar.
—
Christina Manian, Health, 1 May 2026
The week ahead Monday will still look tranquil and dry, with a gradual warming trend continuing.
—Nelly Carreño, CBS News, 1 May 2026
Overall, the expectation is for a gradual, uneven warm-up rather than a sustained shift into consistently above-normal temperatures through mid-May.
—Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
The cooler, drier air is expected to stick around through the weekend before a gradual warming trend early next week.
—Newsroom Meteorologist, Houston Chronicle, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gradual
Christina Manian, Health, 1 May 2026
The week ahead Monday will still look tranquil and dry, with a gradual warming trend continuing.
—Nelly Carreño, CBS News, 1 May 2026
Overall, the expectation is for a gradual, uneven warm-up rather than a sustained shift into consistently above-normal temperatures through mid-May.
—Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
The cooler, drier air is expected to stick around through the weekend before a gradual warming trend early next week.
—Newsroom Meteorologist, Houston Chronicle, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gradual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gradual
Adjective
-
The Browns are still mostly rebuilding the offensive roster and hoping for incremental improvement.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
-
Given Amazon's massive scale, with revenue expected to reach more than $800 billion this year, Luria cautioned that for now the opportunity is likely incremental rather than transformational.—
Paulina Likos,
CNBC,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
CrossBoundary is developing a $250 million solar-and-storage project for Ivanhoe’s Kamoa-Kakula, with phased delivery expected toward full capacity by the third quarter this year.—
Ruben Nyanguila,
semafor.com,
6 May 2026
-
The phased demolition of the Lincolnwood Town Center is expected to begin in May, with demolition of the building most recently known as Harlem Furniture, located on the southeast side closest to McCormick Boulevard.—
Pioneer Press,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gradual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gradual. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
