Definition of cumulativenext
as in accumulative
produced by a series of additions of identical or similar things a cumulative weight gain of 20 pounds over the course of a year

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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 cumulative The company previously required about a year to increase cumulative production from 1,000 to 5,000 robots. Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 29 June 2026 Zero-emissions heavy truck adoption reached 4 percent in the second half of 2025, with a cumulative total by December last year of 72,308 nationwide. Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 30 June 2026 Annual cumulative acre totals are derived from weekly situation reports published by the National Interagency Fire Center. Matt Stiles, CNN Money, 30 June 2026 The Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio has consistently outperformed its market benchmark since inception, delivering cumulative returns of over 105%. Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for cumulative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cumulative
Adjective
  • The choice of Miami Beach as the festival’s long-term home is less accidental than accumulative.
    Desjah Altvater, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
  • According to a new paper, published in the Journal of Geophysical Research, accumulative stresses in the Earth’s crust in California are higher today than at any point over the last 1,000 years, raising concerns over the potential for a massive rupture in the Los Angeles region.
    Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 10 June 2026
Adjective
  • On the coal-closure side, the map is more stable because the category is an additive one.
    Andrew Leahey, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • In effect, the gains were additive, and doing both was best.
    Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 June 2026
Adjective
  • But thanks to recent incremental licensing changes — and the determination of a few entrepreneurs — the city’s wine scene has slowly matured.
    Regan Stephens, New York Times, 2 July 2026
  • The expectation is not incremental productivity gains, but measurable impact.
    Sanjay Dhawan, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Adjective
  • Instead of doubling down on a flawed system, policymakers can make gradual changes by introducing new tax categories in the existing framework and imposing taxes that correspond to the alcoholic content of that category.
    Adam Hoffer, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • And since then, improvements have been gradual rather than revolutionary.
    Chris Evans, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Cumulative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cumulative. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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