1
as in accumulation
a mass or quantity that has piled up or that has been gathered over a period of time
a thick accretion of ice in a freezer that obviously had not been cleaned for some time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in increase
something added (as by growth)
accretions of lime have thickened the cave's stalactites and stalagmites over the centuries
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of accretion
Some astrophysicists argue that matter accretion — a process in which massive objects pull in surrounding matter — alone can produce massive stars, and that studies using observations from the James Webb telescope cannot distinguish between massive ordinary stars and less dense, cooler dark stars.
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Alexey A. Petrov, The Conversation, 25 Nov. 2025
Stichter met with management recently and believes that the initial accretion range is close to being achievable.
—Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2025
The observations detected a puzzling event as the planet transitioned from a steady accretion rate in April and May to a burst of growth between June and August.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
The analysts upgraded their models post-Discover merger for accretion potential.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for accretion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for accretion
Noun
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That front could spark a few brief rain or snow showers Sunday afternoon or early evening, mainly north and west of Philadelphia, with little to no accumulation expected.—
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That would encourage new peat accumulation and carbon sequestration.—
Noun
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Chance of lightning increases as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is overhead.—
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Hopper saw a 40% increase in air travelers, adding its Disruption Assistance feature – which allows users to instantly rebook if their flight is delayed or canceled, or get a refund – overnight following the DOT’s announcement.—
Noun
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Cabello has served as head of Venezuela’s National Integrated Service of Customs and Tax Administration, giving him control over customs, ports and tax collection—key leverage points in an economy marked by sanctions, smuggling and corruption.—
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Auto-annotation tools label data during collection.—
Noun
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That said, many of the gains players made here won’t dramatically affect their bottom lines, and the reality is that most players on ECHL deals will still need those second jobs and other sources of income to continue to chase their dream of making it to the next level.—
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Beck capitalized on that to get shorter gains and set up more manageable third-down situations.—
Noun
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In addition to his political activism, Michael was involved with several charities, including serving as chair of the John Douglas French Alzheimer’s Foundation board.—
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In addition to this, beat reporters Mike Kaye and Alex Zietlow broke down the matchup and offered their predictions on the contest, as is customary.—
Noun
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The city was already buzzing Friday night with both Bears and Packers fans, as the return of the NFL's oldest rivalry is a boost to spirits and business.—
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To be sure, how much of a boost beneficiaries see depends on the size of their current benefits.—
Cite this Entry
“Accretion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accretion. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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