as in incremental
proceeding or changing by steps or degrees
a gradual drop in gas prices will take place over the next several months
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Recent Examples of gradual
That remained high in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, but the consensus around American pride slipped in the years that followed, dropping to about 8 in 10 in 2006 and continuing a gradual decline.
—
Linley Sanders, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 July 2025
In 2022, the department began the gradual rollout of switching about 3,400 handheld radios and upgrading the 1,050 mobile radios in its vehicle fleet.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2025
The shark was more than three-quarters of a mile from the pier when Maxwell finally succeeded in bringing the fish to a gradual stop.
—Donald Millus, Outdoor Life, 3 July 2025
The pool contains both deep and shallow sections, and its zero-entry aspect allows for a gradual decline walk into the water.
—Kansas City Star, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for gradual
Linley Sanders, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 July 2025
In 2022, the department began the gradual rollout of switching about 3,400 handheld radios and upgrading the 1,050 mobile radios in its vehicle fleet.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2025
The shark was more than three-quarters of a mile from the pier when Maxwell finally succeeded in bringing the fish to a gradual stop.
—Donald Millus, Outdoor Life, 3 July 2025
The pool contains both deep and shallow sections, and its zero-entry aspect allows for a gradual decline walk into the water.
—Kansas City Star, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for gradual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gradual
incremental
Adjective
-
Almost all parties agreed at the time that incremental changes would have been preferable to a stalemate – after all, some progress is better than none.—
Kristen Edgreen Kaufman,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
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The ruling on March 3 by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is a sign of the incremental change unfolding in courts and statehouses across the country as legislative efforts to reform qualified immunity in Congress have stalled.—
Tim Stelloh,
NBC news,
5 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gradual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gradual. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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