gradual; progressive; incremental
Describes a process of destruction, dismantlement, erosion, or decline that happens little by little, often without a clear decisive moment. Frequently used with nouns like 破壊 (destruction) or 解体 (dismantlement).
The system was gradually abolished.
Incremental price increases are continuing.
From なし崩し (nashikuzushi), literally 'crumbling without a trace' or 'piecemeal repayment', plus the adjectival suffix 的 (-teki). The exact historical derivation of なし崩し is uncertain; it may relate to 済し崩し (nashikuzushi), an old term for paying off a debt little by little.