The phrase "in bits and pieces" is used to describe something that is broken into small parts or incomplete. There are several synonyms for this phrase such as piece by piece, bit by bit, gradually, incrementally, in stages, step by step, and in fragments. These synonyms are used to depict a slow progression or a process that takes time to complete. The phrase "in bits and pieces" is often used figuratively to explain a situation where nothing is fully resolved, and everything is uncertain. However, some of these synonyms can also be used in a positive light to describe a process that is unfolding slowly but surely.