Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun gradual

1 sense of gradual

Sense 1
gradual -- ((Roman Catholic Church) an antiphon (usually from the Book of Psalms) immediately after the epistle at Mass)
       => antiphon, antiphony -- (a verse or song to be chanted or sung in response)

Antonyms of adj gradual

2 senses of gradual

Sense 1
gradual (vs. sudden) -- (proceeding in small stages; "a gradual increase in prices")

sudden (vs. gradual) -- (happening without warning or in a short space of time; "a sudden storm"; "a sudden decision"; "a sudden cure")
        => abrupt -- (exceedingly sudden and unexpected; "came to an abrupt stop"; "an abrupt change in the weather")
        => choppy, jerky -- (marked by abrupt transitions; "choppy prose")
        => emergent -- (occurring unexpectedly and requiring urgent action; "emergent repair of an aorta")
        => explosive -- (sudden and loud; "an explosive laugh")
        => fulminant -- (sudden and severe; "fulminant pain"; "fulminant fever")
        => sharp -- (very sudden and in great amount or degree; "a sharp drop in the stock market")

Sense 2
gradual (vs. steep) -- ((of a topographical gradient) not steep or abrupt; "a gradual slope")

steep (vs. gradual) -- (having a sharp inclination; "the steep attic stairs"; "steep cliffs")
        => abrupt, precipitous, sharp -- (extremely steep; "an abrupt canyon"; "the precipitous rapids of the upper river"; "the precipitous hills of Chinese paintings"; "a sharp drop")
        => bluff, bold, sheer -- (very steep; having a prominent and almost vertical front; "a bluff headland"; "where the bold chalk cliffs of England rise"; "a sheer descent of rock")
        => heavy -- (sharply inclined; "a heavy grade")
        => perpendicular -- (extremely steep; "the great perpendicular face of the cliff")
        => steepish -- (somewhat steep)
        => steep-sided -- (having very steep sides)

Similarity of adj gradual

2 senses of gradual

Sense 1
gradual (vs. sudden) -- (proceeding in small stages; "a gradual increase in prices")
       => bit-by-bit, in small stages, piecemeal, step-by-step, stepwise -- (one thing at a time)
       => gradational, gradatory, graduated -- (taking place by degrees)
          Also See-> slow#1

Sense 2
gradual (vs. steep) -- ((of a topographical gradient) not steep or abrupt; "a gradual slope")
       => easy, gentle -- (marked by moderate steepness; "an easy climb"; "a gentle slope")
       => sloping -- (having a slanting form or direction; "an area of gently sloping hills"; "a room with a sloping ceiling")
          Also See-> inclined#2