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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For months, John was confined to his bed and was off work for six months, before making a gradual return to teaching in September 2022.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Aug. 2025 -
The floodwaters, which broke through a dam of glacial ice, are an example of how gradual shifts to the climate are sometimes punctuated by sudden drama that can rapidly reshape a landscape.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
14 Aug. 2025
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“Step-by-step.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/step-by-step. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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