inchmeal
Little by little
Inchmeal means by inches, a little at a time, gradually: The glacier advanced inchmeal over centuries.
The word is archaic and literary, formed on the same pattern as piecemeal.
Where piecemeal suggests discrete portions, inchmeal emphasizes slow, measured progress across small distances.
In gradual increments
- step-by-stepIn sequential stages
- progressiveFavoring reform and innovation
- phasedIntroduced or removed incrementally
- gradationalProceeding by degrees
successive · sequential · slow · measured · unhurried · creeping · crawling · imperceptible
Extremely careful and thorough
- methodicalOrganized and deliberate
- carefulExercising caution and attention
- thoroughComplete in every detail
- preciseExactly correct, no error
exacting · scrupulous · systematic · deliberate · fastidious · rigorous · detailed · exact
bit-by-bit
In gradual increments
- step-by-stepIn sequential stages
- progressiveFavoring reform and innovation
- phasedIntroduced or removed incrementally
gradational · successive · sequential · slow · measured · unhurried · creeping · crawling · imperceptible · fractional
painstaking
Extremely careful and thorough
- methodicalOrganized and deliberate
- carefulExercising caution and attention
- thoroughComplete in every detail
precise · exacting · scrupulous · systematic · deliberate · fastidious · rigorous · detailed · exact · minute
persevering
Maintaining effort despite difficulty
- persistentContinuing despite difficulty
- tenaciousStubbornly determined to continue
- steadfastFirmly loyal, unshakeable
enduring · dogged · plodding · forbearing · unhurried · unrushed · stoic · composed · resolute · determined
inchmealsuddenly
Without prior indication
abruptly · instantly · all at once · immediately · precipitously
inchmealwholesale
Bulk sales to merchants
entirely · completely · in toto · altogether · en masse
inch, inches, inched, inching, piecemeal, incremental, incrementally, increments, incremented