as in cumulative
produced by a series of additions of identical or similar things
certain drugs have additive effects when taken in conjunction with each other that one doesn't see when any one is used alone
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in subsidiary
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of additive
Emmanuella Ogbonna,
Health,
17 June 2026
The takeaway is that these factors are additive.
—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
13 June 2026
Scott K. Johnson,
ArsTechnica,
15 May 2026
Compost is the single best additive available for improving any soil type.
—
Emily Leahy,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for additive
Adjective
Some supplements, such as melatonin, L-theanine, and tryptophan, may have an additive or synergistic effect on sleep when taken with magnesium.
—
Emmanuella Ogbonna,
Health,
17 June 2026
The takeaway is that these factors are additive.
—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
13 June 2026
Noun
Iron, magnesium, and aluminum could also be separated and recovered, and leftover silicate material can serve as the additive for Portland cement instead of something like coal ash.
—
Scott K. Johnson,
ArsTechnica,
15 May 2026
Compost is the single best additive available for improving any soil type.
—
Emily Leahy,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for additive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for additive
Adjective
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The median cumulative earnings for UC graduates over a 20-year period amounts to more than $2 million, data from 2024 shows.
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Keeping headphone volume below 60 percent of maximum, taking listening breaks and wearing ear protection at concerts or loud job sites all reduce cumulative damage over time.
Noun
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In-home help for 44 hours of care a week rose to about $80,080 last year, according to a March report from CareScout, a subsidiary of Genworth Financial.
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Companies like Vantor and Planet sell imagery to a variety of customers, for example, while others like SpaceX (via its subsidiary Starlink) and Viasat provide internet service from above.
Noun
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And asked ourselves what are other things that feel like good accompaniments to a horror game?
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Then the other part of it was really kind of finished with Niwel’s beautiful harmonic accompaniment.
Noun
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According to Littley, a common mistake among home cooks is neglecting how the pasta and sauce complement each other.
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Research in Management Science finds AI complements domain expertise rather than replacing it, creating the most value when the person interpreting the output already understands the problem.
Noun
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In addition is a regime of far less appetizing supplements—daily Epsom salts, bitterdrops, and other shots—which aid in the detoxifying process.
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Some supplements and chews are offered in different flavors to better entice your dog.
Cite this Entry
“Additive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/additive. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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