piecemeal 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of piecemealnext
as in gradual
proceeding or changing by steps or degrees a piecemeal attempt to remedy the traffic congestion

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

piecemeal

2 of 2

adverb

ˈpēs-ˌmēl How to pronounce piecemeal (audio)
1
as in gradually
by small steps or amounts remodeled their house piecemeal because of budgetary constraints

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in apart
into parts or pieces one well-aimed blow ripped the piñata piecemeal

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 piecemeal
Adjective
Community leaders say the situation represents the frustrating piecemeal approach taken over the years to preserve one of the city’s most important cultural landmarks. — Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026 How OpenAI’s technology escaped a sandbox and hacked into another company is a remarkable story, and one in which the details are still coming in piecemeal. — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 29 July 2026
Adverb
All of these current approaches to self-improving AI are not recursive but piecemeal. — Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2026 All week, top Republicans opposed funding DHS piecemeal. — Sam Gringlas, NPR, 27 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for piecemeal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for piecemeal
  1. gradual
  2. gradually
  3. apart
Adjective
  • If the answer is yes, then waiting ceases to be a strategy of restraint and begins to look like gradual erosion of power and strength.
    — Hamidreza Azizi, Time, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Roland Nieratka said the gradual increase in bag fees was put in place as a way to shift peoples’ habits.
    — Cam'ron Hardy, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of gradual
Adverb
  • The fee applies during the first 13 years of the agreement and gradually declines over the remaining initial term.
    — Sydney Sasser, Arkansas Online, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Some medications need to be tapered gradually, and there are serious risks of stopping them suddenly.
    — Danielle Zickl, HEALTH, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of gradually
Adverb
  • The suspect, identified by the NYPD as 31-year-old Jesus Acosta, is being hunted in connection with two deadly shootings that unfolded days apart across New York City, police told Fox News Digital.
    — Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Two beloved entertainment icons, born just three months apart in 1946, died at the same age on the same day.
    — Sameen Chaudhry, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of apart

Browse Nearby Words

pieced (together)
piecemeal
piece of cake
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Piecemeal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piecemeal. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of dissonant

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All