as in gradual
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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 stepwise
Their population has risen from 76 to 108, while the Central chimps’ population has seen a stepwise decline.
—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
9 Apr. 2026
Something else Krasley observed was that the factories didn’t embark on one gigantic, expensive retrofit, but rather took a stepwise approach to accumulating cooling improvements that was easier on their bottom lines.
—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
26 Mar. 2026
Certain fungi use enzymes to break down complex organic matter through stepwise reactions.
—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Feb. 2026
This stepwise approach will give you a reliable, privacy-compliant framework for budget allocation that evolves as your business and the market do.
—
Bernard May,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
The percentage of uninsured respondents in the 30-49 age cohort, which was the first group targeted in a stepwise introduction of the requirement, rose to 14.5% in 2018 from 10.5% in 2016.
—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Nov. 2024
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
9 Apr. 2026
Something else Krasley observed was that the factories didn’t embark on one gigantic, expensive retrofit, but rather took a stepwise approach to accumulating cooling improvements that was easier on their bottom lines.
—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
26 Mar. 2026
Certain fungi use enzymes to break down complex organic matter through stepwise reactions.
—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Feb. 2026
This stepwise approach will give you a reliable, privacy-compliant framework for budget allocation that evolves as your business and the market do.
—
Bernard May,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
The percentage of uninsured respondents in the 30-49 age cohort, which was the first group targeted in a stepwise introduction of the requirement, rose to 14.5% in 2018 from 10.5% in 2016.
—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Nov. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stepwise
Adjective
-
Ryan Gusto earned his fourth start of the season after originally being called up from Triple A Jacksonville as a bullpen arm, showing gradual progress by pitching 4 ⅓ innings while giving up three hits and one run.
-
When baby boomers meet the debt ceiling Those dates line up uncomfortably well with the gradual fading of the baby boomer generation from positions of economic and political power.
Adjective
-
Keep your laminate floors looking their best with this step-by-step guide.
-
Our step-by-step instructions walk you through making pâte à choux dough, essential for the crisp golden puffs.
Adjective
-
The World Health Organization projects that uncontrolled resistance could impose more than one trillion dollars in cumulative healthcare costs by 2050 — a burden falling on systems already stretched to capacity.
-
Hair follicle health was checked using the Trichogram test and the FotoFinder system, which tracks hair density, follicular unit count and cumulative hair thickness.
Cite this Entry
“Stepwise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stepwise. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
