as in gradual
proceeding or changing by steps or degrees
a piecemeal attempt to remedy the traffic congestion
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1
as in gradually
by small steps or amounts
remodeled their house piecemeal because of budgetary constraints
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of piecemeal
Hunter Harris, Vulture, 4 Apr. 2025
And most are piecemeal, plugging leaks but failing to address rising climate risks comprehensively, Haedtler argued.
—Mark Gongloff, Twin Cities, 19 Feb. 2025
Brian Welk, IndieWire, 9 Apr. 2025
McCall, who has presided over the U.K.’s biggest commercial public service broadcaster (PSB) since 2018, is reportedly weighing up selling the media conglomerate, either in its entirety or piecemeal.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 26 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for piecemeal
Adjective
He’s spent much of the last decade teasing us about the upcoming installments, throwing out piecemeal updates (with occasional breaks for a Titanic rerelease or to shade Alien: Covenant).
—Hunter Harris, Vulture, 4 Apr. 2025
And most are piecemeal, plugging leaks but failing to address rising climate risks comprehensively, Haedtler argued.
—Mark Gongloff, Twin Cities, 19 Feb. 2025
Adverb
Enterprising indie producers generally are nimble, and many will buy piecemeal rather than buying in bulk, while others will race to acquire goods in the window before Trump changes course again.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 9 Apr. 2025
McCall, who has presided over the U.K.’s biggest commercial public service broadcaster (PSB) since 2018, is reportedly weighing up selling the media conglomerate, either in its entirety or piecemeal.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 26 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for piecemeal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for piecemeal
Adjective
-
This year, the number of high school graduates will peak at around 3.9 million and then begin a gradual descent that will result in about 13% fewer by 2041.—
Paul Weinstein Jr,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2025
-
Instead, the change was a gradual softening, a growing sense that my shoulders had dropped a bit and my tongue wasn’t glued so tightly to the roof of my mouth.—
Anya Meyerowitz,
Glamour,
9 May 2025
Adverb
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Kody's marriages to Meri, Janelle and Christine fell apart within a span of 14 months.—
Esther Kang,
People.com,
22 May 2025
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The Dodgers’ vaunted rotation fell apart quickly this season, with starters Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki and River Ryan injured, and relievers Emmet Sheehan, Evan Phillips, Kirby Yates, Blake Treinen, Brusdar Graterol and Michael Kopech all on the injured list.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
22 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Piecemeal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piecemeal. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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