cumulative effect

noun

: an effect produced by something happening over a long period of time
the cumulative effect(s) of smoking on the body

Examples of cumulative effect in a Sentence

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Even though the overall pace of food inflation has slowed, the cumulative effect of price increases over the past few years is still weighing on consumers. Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025 The cumulative effect of those interpretations directly shapes how socially well—or unwell—people feel. Gillian Oakenfull, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025 Evening chronotypes also had significantly poorer sleep quality, explainable by social jet lag and an accumulation of sleep debt (the cumulative effect of not getting sufficient sleep). Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025 In the courtroom, the cumulative effect proved overwhelming. Karl Vick, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cumulative effect

Cite this Entry

“Cumulative effect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cumulative%20effect. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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