accumulative

adjective

ac·​cu·​mu·​la·​tive ə-ˈkyü-m(y)ə-ˌlā-tiv How to pronounce accumulative (audio) -lə- How to pronounce accumulative (audio)
1
: cumulative
an age of rapid and accumulative change
2
: tending or given to accumulation
accumulatively adverb
accumulativeness noun

Examples of accumulative in a Sentence

The accumulative effect of his injuries forced him to retire. the accumulative effect of all her worries was to seriously undermine her health
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The heat is accumulative but not terribly aggressive in spice, and the bits of water chestnut offer freshness and crunch. Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2025 The number of creations, the gorgeous gemstones, and the accumulative effect of seeing all gathered in physical reality in front of my eyes – decades and decades of dedicated work and love, lined up, was rather overwhelming. Anthony Demarco, Forbes, 6 Oct. 2024 Such an accumulative approach can work: Stearns’ Brewers made the playoffs without a starting pitcher who qualified for the ERA title in 2019, as did the Rays in 2022 and the Dodgers last year. Jerry Beach, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 According to the latest available data from the FTC, more than 46,000 people in the U.S. reported losing an accumulative $1 billion to crypto scams between January 2021 and June 2022. Eamon Barrett, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2023 See All Example Sentences for accumulative

Word History

Etymology

accumulate + -ive

First Known Use

1641, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of accumulative was in 1641

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Cite this Entry

“Accumulative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accumulative. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

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