1
as in gradual
proceeding or changing by steps or degrees the incremental evolution of the collection from a specialized gallery into a comprehensive art museum

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in cumulative
produced by a series of additions of identical or similar things the incremental total for my collection of baseball cards

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 incremental The study, informed by senior former leaders from the Pentagon, US Army, Air Force, and nuclear security agencies, states that mere incremental improvements will be insufficient to counter the growing asymmetry in the battlespace. Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025 Whereas Wi-Fi 6 offered merely incremental speed increases over Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 7 is mostly about lightning-fast connections. Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 8 Oct. 2025 The company has not introduced a new mass-market vehicle in years, relying heavily on incremental updates to the Model 3 and Model Y to drive sales. Mrinmay Dey, USA Today, 6 Oct. 2025 In order to meet the needs of each individual customer and prevent overtaxing the nascent production system, the company is adopting a policy of incremental output increases. New Atlas, 6 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for incremental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incremental
Adjective
  • Paz favored gradual reform, including tax incentives for small businesses and regional fiscal autonomy, while Quiroga proposed sweeping cuts and an IMF bailout.
    Reuters 3 min ago, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2025
  • The Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association (BSAA) has called the increase unsustainable, suggesting instead a gradual implementation over six to twelve months with a 10–15 percent rise.
    Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Fan apathy is showing up in the attendance figures at the Rose Bowl, and the athletic department’s financial problems have been piling up — the Bruins have been operating at a cumulative deficit of over $200 million over the last five years.
    Chris Vannini, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Through August, the value of Pokémon cards has delivered a cumulative return of 3,821% since 2004, according to an index by analytics firm Card Ladder, the Wall Street Journal reported.
    Luke Fountain, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Incremental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incremental. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on incremental

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!