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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After consecutive years of other legislation that sought an outright repeal of the Medicaid expansion over rising expense to taxpayers, the work requirements bill was branded a compromise to rein in costs.—
Kevin Fixler,
Idaho Statesman,
1 Apr. 2026
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Injury update Heat guard Norman Powell was ruled out for a third consecutive game with an upper respiratory infection.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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In October, the Justice Department filed criminal charges against James that have since been thrown out successive times by federal judges.—
Sarah D. Wire,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
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Foreign investors have been wary of Mongolia’s political volatility and the short tenure of successive governments.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Successional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/successional. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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