as in consecutive
following one after another without others coming in between
the successional stages that an area goes through following a devastating forest fire
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Recent Examples of successional
This biological soil crust immobilizes shifting dunes and establishes a nutrient-rich substrate essential for the successional development of plant life.
—
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 1 Jan. 2026
Periodic burning or disking, to maintain early successional growth and keep a field from becoming a young forest, tends to stimulate the growth of forbs.
—Will Brantley, Outdoor Life, 29 Oct. 2025
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 1 Jan. 2026
Periodic burning or disking, to maintain early successional growth and keep a field from becoming a young forest, tends to stimulate the growth of forbs.
—Will Brantley, Outdoor Life, 29 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for successional
Adjective
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The anticipated move would end a string of three consecutive quarter-point rate cuts, aligning with a cautious approach outlined by Powell last month, before reports of the investigation into his conduct.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
28 Jan. 2026
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Iowa has won eight consecutive games since a loss to UConn in late December.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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But after two successive defeats have followed an encouraging five-match unbeaten run for Edwards’ side, the need to add one or two new voices and fresh ideas to a dressing room immersed in a depressing relegation fight was clear in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat against Bournemouth.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
1 Feb. 2026
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That age has gradually increased in recent years, rising by two months for each successive birth year.—
Bailey Allen,
The Providence Journal,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Successional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/successional. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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