gradatory

9.9

Happening in small steps over time

adjective
/ˈɡrædəˌtɔri/

: gradual

Her recovery has been gradatory rather than immediate, improving in small steps over months.

Examples

The evolution of languages is a gradatory process, rarely marked by sudden change.
The gradatory transformation of the landscape was barely noticeable at first.
The gradatory process of learning a new language can be slow.
She explained the gradatory changes in the curriculum over the years.
The gradatory increase in her skills was evident as she practiced every day, making small improvements over time.
His gradatory approach to solving the problem allowed him to make steady progress instead of rushing.
The gradatory changes in technology have transformed our daily lives, happening gradually over the years.

Synonyms

stepwise

vsgradatory

2 6.0

Happens in small steps rather than all at once

proceeds gradually by degrees rather than in distinct jumps

gradational

vsgradatory

7.4

To change in small steps over time

proceeds step by step rather than only indicating change

graduated

vsgradatory

4.2

Arranged in levels that go up by small amounts

proceeds step by step rather than merely being arranged

processive

vsgradatory

8.4

Doing a task by following steps in order

focuses on general processes rather than gradual change by degrees

Antonyms

immediate

570 1.3

Happening at once without any delay

abrupt

37 4.6

Happening suddenly without warning

How Gradual

incremental

50 4.8

gradatory

9.9

sudden

614 1.0

Surface Forms

gradatory positive

Morphology

gradatory = gradate (semi-transparent) = grad + ate + ory

Formed from the verb 'gradate' + the adjectival suffix '-ory'; the connection to 'grade/grad' (step or degree) is recoverable but the base 'gradate' and the suffix '-ory' are relatively rare.

Etymology

Gradatory comes from an old Latin word gradus that means 'step' and is the same root as the everyday words grade and graduate. So a gradatory change happens 'step by step' or 'by degrees'.