accumulative

[ uh-kyoo-myuh-ley-tiv, -luh-tiv ]

adjective

1. tending to accumulate or arising from accumulation; cumulative.
2. tending to accumulate wealth; acquisitive.

Other Words From

• ac·cumu·lative·ly adverb
• ac·cumu·lative·ness noun
• nonac·cumu·la·tive adjective
• nonac·cumu·la·tive·ly adverb
• nonac·cumu·la·tive·ness noun
• unac·cumu·lative adjective
• unac·cumu·lative·ly adverb
• unac·cumu·lative·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of accumulative¹

First recorded in 1645–55; accumulate + -ive

Example Sentences

Their failure is of the everyday variety—accumulative and quietly disappointing.

From The Daily Beast

Joy and pleasure are of a transitory nature only, while pain and sorrow are of a permanent and accumulative character.

From Project Gutenberg

Next: ‘Aia’ is generally an accumulative yet depreciative termination.

From Project Gutenberg

People with accumulative minds wander through the museum, very interesting, "Just look at this mosaic, John."

From Project Gutenberg

But the stimulus which one invention afforded to another gave an accumulative power to the application of new methods.

From Project Gutenberg

There is a well-marked distinction between the excitable and what I will call the accumulative temperament in patients.

From Project Gutenberg