as in gradual
proceeding or changing by steps or degrees
a piecemeal attempt to remedy the traffic congestion
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in gradually
by small steps or amounts
remodeled their house piecemeal because of budgetary constraints
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of piecemeal
Deon J. Hampton, NBC news, 15 Sep. 2025
The piecemeal efforts improved the dictionary’s quality and cool quotient.
—Stefan Fatsis, The Atlantic, 13 Sep. 2025
Special To The Denver Post, Denver Post, 31 Aug. 2025
Still, these reforms remain piecemeal and are isolated to places with political will and financial resources.
—Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for piecemeal
Adjective
Holly assembled his gear in a piecemeal fashion, the ADL said, drawing inspiration from the equipment used by previous mass shooters.
—Deon J. Hampton, NBC news, 15 Sep. 2025
The piecemeal efforts improved the dictionary’s quality and cool quotient.
—Stefan Fatsis, The Atlantic, 13 Sep. 2025
Adverb
Native plants can be added to the landscape piecemeal or in a landscape overhaul.
—Special To The Denver Post, Denver Post, 31 Aug. 2025
Still, these reforms remain piecemeal and are isolated to places with political will and financial resources.
—Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for piecemeal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for piecemeal
Adjective
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Following Fidel Castro’s departure from public life in 2008, Cuba’s subsequent leader, and Fidel’s brother, Raul Castro, announced a series of gradual steps intended to encourage private enterprise that had long been curtailed by the government.—
Joseph J. Gonzalez,
The Conversation,
3 Oct. 2025
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But one area that remained dominated by country crooners and fans, albeit amid gradual change, was Broadway.—
Leena Tailor,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Oct. 2025
Adverb
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Maddie—baggy hoodies tossed over an array of old tattoos, clearly carrying a heavy amount of life for her 28 years—gradually attempts to fill her daughter in on her own youth, treading a tightrope between honesty and delicacy.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
1 Oct. 2025
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The algorithm mathematically models how certain information spreads rapidly and is gradually forgotten.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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As a young man, Mthethwa campaigned against apartheid, a racist policy that kept Blacks and Whites apart, and grew through the ranks of the African National Congress (ANC) party, which fought for democratic rule in South Africa.—
Nimi Princewill,
CNN Money,
1 Oct. 2025
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But putting things this way only underscores the oddity of setting ourselves apart, of measuring all things against one species’ standard—that species being ours.—
Harmon Siegel,
Artforum,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Piecemeal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piecemeal. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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