as in gradual
proceeding or changing by steps or degrees
the incessant step-by-step advance of the enemy's troops could no longer be resisted
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Recent Examples of Synonyms for step-by-step
gradual
Adjective
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The storm is moving toward the west-northwest and this motion is expected to continue over the next couple of days with a gradual decrease in forward speed.—
Gabe Hauari,
USA Today,
1 Aug. 2025 -
The chart shows steady collections around $2-4 billion from 2015-2017, followed by gradual increases to $6-8 billion through 2020-2024, then a sharp upward spike in 2025 reaching a peak of $27.2 billion in June 2025.—
Steve Kopack,
NBC news,
31 July 2025
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“Step-by-step.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/step-by-step. Accessed 12 Aug. 2025.
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