as in accumulating
to gradually form into a layer, pile, or mass
silt accreting at the mouth of the river over time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of accreting
This spike is a Herbig–Haro object (HH 399, specifically) — a jet of material launched by a growing protostar accreting too much matter and ejecting the excess along its rotational axis.
—
Keith Cooper, Space.com, 24 Apr. 2026
The protagonists are ultimately constructed like robots, accreting no more experiences or traits or memories than they’re programmed to have.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2026
Instruments drift in and out, sometimes accreting into subtle polyrhythms or harmonies, and other times lightly undergirding Ederra’s gorgeous runs.
—Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 11 Mar. 2026
For the first few billion years of cosmic history, galaxies formed and grew by accreting more and more material from the intergalactic medium, as well as by merging together to form larger, more mature galaxies.
—Big Think, 20 Feb. 2026
X-ray data revealed that the black hole is accreting material at roughly 13 times the Eddington limit, placing it among the fastest-growing black holes known at this mass scale.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 23 Jan. 2026
Eventually the star stops accreting matter, leaving the disk in orbit around it.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
In many cases, similar accreting black holes are telltale signs of active galactic nuclei, but astronomers needed to examine the evidence more carefully.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 7 Aug. 2025
Keith Cooper, Space.com, 24 Apr. 2026
The protagonists are ultimately constructed like robots, accreting no more experiences or traits or memories than they’re programmed to have.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2026
Instruments drift in and out, sometimes accreting into subtle polyrhythms or harmonies, and other times lightly undergirding Ederra’s gorgeous runs.
—Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 11 Mar. 2026
For the first few billion years of cosmic history, galaxies formed and grew by accreting more and more material from the intergalactic medium, as well as by merging together to form larger, more mature galaxies.
—Big Think, 20 Feb. 2026
X-ray data revealed that the black hole is accreting material at roughly 13 times the Eddington limit, placing it among the fastest-growing black holes known at this mass scale.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 23 Jan. 2026
Eventually the star stops accreting matter, leaving the disk in orbit around it.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
In many cases, similar accreting black holes are telltale signs of active galactic nuclei, but astronomers needed to examine the evidence more carefully.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for accreting
accumulating
Verb
-
The case was dismissed after Sinbad failed to meet the court’s repayment plan requirements, allowing his tax debts to continue accumulating.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2026
-
Use a drain catcher to stop hair and debris from accumulating.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Sacbee.com,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Accreting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accreting. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
