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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For three consecutive years, Canada’s quest for gold at the event has ended with a loss to Czechia, including a 6-4 defeat in the semifinals this year.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
10 Feb. 2026
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Though Miami has made the playoffs every year this decade, and gone to two Finals in the past six years, fan exasperation stems from a team (with historically high standards and achievement) remaining in play-in purgatory for what’s headed toward a fourth consecutive season.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The common factor in all of this is the Federal Reserve (albeit acting in very good faith in response to successive defense, financial and health crises) increased the amount of money sloshing around relative to the size of the economy to unprecedented levels.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
15 Feb. 2026
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Real Madrid is hosting Real Sociedad later and aiming for an eighth successive league win to pressure Barcelona before the leader’s match at Girona on Monday.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Successional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/successional. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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