If you describe a change or process as piecemeal, you disapprove of it because it happens gradually, usually at irregular intervals, and is probably not satisfactory.
[disapproval]
The piecemeal approach, one country after another, is not a good one.
...piecemeal changes to the constitution.
Synonyms: unsystematic, interrupted, partial, patchy More Synonyms of piecemeal
Piecemeal is also an adverb.
The government plans to sell the railways piecemeal to the private sector.
It was built piecemeal over some 130 years.
More Synonyms of piecemeal
piecemeal in British English
(ˈpiːsˌmiːl)
adverb
1.
by degrees; bit by bit; gradually
2.
in or into pieces or piece from piece
to tear something piecemeal
adjective
3.
fragmentary or unsystematic
a piecemeal approach
Word origin
C13 pecemele, from piece + -mele, from Old English mælum quantity taken at one time
piecemeal in American English
(ˈpisˌmil)
adverb
1.
piece by piece; in small amounts or degrees
2.
into pieces or parts
adjective
3.
made or done in pieces or one piece at a time
Word origin
ME pecemel < pece (see piece) + -mele: see -meal
Examples of 'piecemeal' in a sentence
piecemeal
In normal circumstances, piecemeal reforms without a grand signature project might still add up to a laudable conservative record.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
In normal circumstances, piecemeal reforms without a grand signature project mightstill add up to a laudable conservative record.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But for now that history emerged only piecemeal.
John Garth TOLKIEN AND THE GREAT WAR: The Threshold of Middle-earth (2003)
This piecemeal approach is characterized by a number of themes.
Walklate, Sandra Victimology - the victim and the criminal justice process (1989)
He had to dismantle it and sell it piecemeal.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
But what is inevitably a piecemeal approach cannot address the issue of the past in all its complexity.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Another framework could involve a piecemeal approach in which working groups try to reach agreements on individual issues.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Instead, the piecemeal measures will add further complexity and uncertainty to an already fragmented system.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
As they also lacked a written language, our understanding of their construction techniques remains piecemeal.
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
The present approach is too piecemeal, too arbitrary.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
But in government the coalition's approach has been piecemeal.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
A piecemeal approach will not suffice.
Peter F. Drucker MANAGING FOR RESULTS (1986)
Welcome though such measures are, they remain piecemeal and are unlikely to feed into growth until 2014-15.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In other languages
piecemeal
British English: piecemeal ADJECTIVE
A piecemeal process happens gradually, usually at irregular intervals, and is probably not satisfactory.
These piecemeal solutions won't work.
American English: piecemeal
Brazilian Portuguese: a conta gotas
Chinese: > 逐渐而零碎的变化或过程
European Spanish: gradual
French: décousu
German: stückweise
Italian: frammentario
Japanese: 断片的な
Korean: 단편적인
European Portuguese: a conta-gotas
Latin American Spanish: gradual
(adjective)
Definition
fragmentary or unsystematic
piecemeal changes to the constitution
Synonyms
unsystematic
interrupted
A toe injury caused her six weeks of interrupted training.
partial
Their policy only met with partial success.
patchy
The wall looked patchy when the paint had dried.
intermittent
spotty
His attendance record was spotty.
fragmentary
The extant volume is fragmentary.
(adverb)
Definition
bit by bit
It was built piecemeal over some 130 years.
Synonyms
bit by bit
Bit by bit I began to understand what they were trying to do.
slowly
My resentment of her slowly began to fade.
gradually
Gradually, she began to trust him.
partially
She is deaf in one ear and partially blind.
intermittently
at intervals
little by little
Little by little, he was becoming weaker.
fitfully
The sun shone fitfully.
by degrees
The crowd was thinning, but only by degrees.
by fits and starts
Additional synonyms
in the sense of by degrees
The crowd was thinning, but only by degrees.
Synonyms
little by little,
slowly,
gradually,
moderately,
gently,
piecemeal,
bit by bit,
imperceptibly,
inch by inch,
unhurriedly
in the sense of fitfully
The sun shone fitfully.
Synonyms
irregularly,
on and off,
intermittently,
sporadically,
off and on,
erratically,
in fits and starts,
spasmodically,
in snatches,
desultorily,
by fits and starts,
interruptedly
in the sense of fragmentary
Definition
made up of small or unconnected pieces
The extant volume is fragmentary.
Synonyms
incomplete,
broken,
scattered,
partial,
disconnected,
discrete,
sketchy,
piecemeal,
incoherent,
scrappy,
disjointed,
bitty,
unsystematic
Nearby words of
piecemeal
piece
pièce de résistance
piece something together
piecemeal
pied
pier
pierce
Synonyms of 'piecemeal'
piecemeal
Explore 'piecemeal' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of gradually
Gradually, she began to trust him.
Synonyms
steadily,
slowly,
moderately,
progressively,
gently,
step by step,
evenly,
piecemeal,
bit by bit,
little by little,
by degrees,
piece by piece,
unhurriedly,
drop by drop
in the sense of interrupted
A toe injury caused her six weeks of interrupted training.