Synonyms for gradual
ˈgrædʒ u əlgrad·u·al

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:3.0 / 1 vote

1. gradualnoun

   Antonyms:
   sudden, abrupt

2. gradualadjective

   Proceeding by steps or small degrees; advancing step by step, as in ascent or descent or from one state to another; regularly progressive; slow; as, a gradual increase of knowledge; a gradual decline.

   Antonyms:
   sudden, abrupt

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. gradual

   Slow signifies moving through a relatively short distance, or with a relatively small number of motions in a given time; slow also applies to that which is a relatively long while in beginning or accomplishing something; a watch or a clock is said to be slow when its indications are behind those of the standard time. Tardy is applied to that which is behind the proper or desired time, especially in doing a work or arriving at a place. Deliberate and dilatory are used of persons, tho the latter may be used also of things, as of a stream; a person is deliberate who takes a noticeably long time to consider and decide before acting or who acts or speaks as if he were deliberating at every point; a person is dilatory who lays aside, or puts off as long as possible, necessary or required action; both words may be applied either to undertaking or to doing. Gradual (Latin gradus, a step) signifies advancing by steps, and refers to slow but regular and sure progression. Slack refers to action that seems to indicate a lack of tension, as of muscle or of will, sluggish to action that seems as if reluctant to advance.

   See synonyms for NIMBLE.

   Synonyms:
   dawdling, delaying, deliberate, dilatory, drowsy, dull, inactive, inert, lingering, moderate, procrastinating, slack, slow, sluggish, tardy

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. gradual

   Synonyms:
   slow, continuous, unintermittent, gradational, regular, step by step, progressive

   Antonyms:
   sudden, momentary, instantaneous, periodic, recurrent, intermittent, discontinuous, broken, disconnected

Princeton's WordNetRate these antonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. gradualadjective

   (Roman Catholic Church) an antiphon (usually from the Book of Psalms) immediately after the epistle at Mass

   Antonyms:
   jerky, bold, steep, steepish, heavy, precipitous, explosive, sharp, fulminant, emergent, steep-sided, choppy, abrupt, bluff, perpendicular, sudden, sheer

2. gradualadjective

   proceeding in small stages

   "a gradual increase in prices"

   Antonyms:
   bold, sheer, abrupt, steep-sided, choppy, bluff, fulminant, steep, precipitous, sudden, emergent, perpendicular, explosive, sharp, steepish, jerky, heavy

3. gradualadjective

   (of a topographical gradient) not steep or abrupt

   "a gradual slope"

   Antonyms:
   sheer, heavy, sharp, steep, emergent, explosive, sudden, steep-sided, abrupt, fulminant, jerky, choppy, bluff, precipitous, steepish, perpendicular, bold

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:4.0 / 3 votes

1. gradualadjective

   Synonyms:
   regular (step by step), progressive, slow

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "gradual":

   progressive, step-by-step, phased, incremental, phased-in, gradually, stepwise, progressively, smooth, step-wise, gradualist, piecemeal, steady, graduated, staged

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How to use gradual in a sentence?

1. Pete Meijer:

   When we say QAnon, you have the sort of extreme forms, but you also just have this softer, gradual undermining of any shared, collective sense of truth.

2. Finance Minister Anton Siluanov:

   We are talking about a gradual lifting of restrictions for Chinese financial institutions investing in (Russian) financial markets, this would substantially increase the size of capital flows between our two countries.

3. Kari Bagnall:

   So they get used to what things feel like and look like and smell like first, it's a gradual process, and it will probably take four to five months.

4. Paul McDade:

   We are very much on schedule for a July/August gradual start of production. The aim is to hit peak production in early 2017.

5. Richmond Fed President Jeffrey Lacker:

   That's half the rate at which we raised rates in the last tightening cycle. So that's what 'gradual' means to me.