accumulative

adjective

ac·​cu·​mu·​la·​tive ə-ˈkyü-m(y)ə-ˌlā-tiv  -lə- 

1

: cumulative

an age of rapid and accumulative change

2

: tending or given to accumulation

accumulatively adverb

accumulativeness noun

Synonyms

• accretive
• additive
• conglomerative
• cumulative
• incremental

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

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

Therein lies the trick of this novel, its slow magic wrought through small, accumulative moments. —Isaac Fitzgerald, New York Times, 4 June 2023

Word History

Etymology

accumulate + -ive

First Known Use

1641, in the meaning defined at sense 1