evolutionary

[ev-uh-loo-shuh-ner-ee, ee-vuh-] / ˌɛv əˈlu ʃəˌnɛr i, ˌi və- /

ADJECTIVE

pertaining to evolution or development

Synonyms

STRONGEST

developmental metamorphic mutative transformative

STRONG

changing growing progressive transmutative

WEAK

generative revolutionary

Antonyms

STRONGEST

extinct stagnant stunted

STRONG

dormant idle inert

WEAK

arrested frozen

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

These genetic features act like evolutionary accelerators, preserving useful traits and speeding up change.

From Science Daily • Apr. 1, 2026

This approach combines anatomical features with fossil ages to estimate evolutionary relationships and divergence times.

From Science Daily • Mar. 27, 2026

"The addition of this Arctic species to the rhino family tree now offers new insights to our understanding of their evolutionary history."

From Science Daily • Mar. 24, 2026

"There will be an evolutionary path to building humanity's first permanent surface outpost beyond Earth, and we will take the world along with us."

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

Yet, culturally speaking, today men with big butts are considered less desirable than a man with a potbelly, which is no doubt wrong from an evolutionary point of view.

From "Counting by 7s" by Holly Goldberg Sloan