as in consecutive
following one after another without others coming in between
the successional stages that an area goes through following a devastating forest fire
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Recent Examples of successional
This biological soil crust immobilizes shifting dunes and establishes a nutrient-rich substrate essential for the successional development of plant life.
—
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 1 Jan. 2026
Periodic burning or disking, to maintain early successional growth and keep a field from becoming a young forest, tends to stimulate the growth of forbs.
—Will Brantley, Outdoor Life, 29 Oct. 2025
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 1 Jan. 2026
Periodic burning or disking, to maintain early successional growth and keep a field from becoming a young forest, tends to stimulate the growth of forbs.
—Will Brantley, Outdoor Life, 29 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for successional
Adjective
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In fact, Kancey was only one of two players in the NFL in 2024 to record a quarterback hit in 10-plus consecutive games, joining the Texans’ Danielle Hunter.—
Rick Stroud,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
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The Lakers finished the regular season with three consecutive wins to hold onto home-court advantage as the fourth seed.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Since 2018, Xie’s research group has gradually advanced the technology through successive iterations, addressing persistent challenges in materials science, cell durability, fuel processing, and the ability to maintain continuous coal feed.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Apr. 2026
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Carlos Alcaraz won’t play for a third successive French Open title due to a right wrist injury.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Successional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/successional. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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