1
as in step
a very small distance or degree
give them an inch, and they'll take a mile
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
1
as in to encroach
to advance gradually beyond the usual or desirable limits
every year the water inches further up the embankments, threatening to permanently engulf the island city
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of inch
Martha Stewart, 5 Feb. 2026
Drake stopped a few inches shy of that.
—Tim Rohan, NBC news, 5 Feb. 2026
Newsroom Meteorologist, Houston Chronicle, 31 Jan. 2026
Trying to inch up out of play-in purgatory and matter.
—Greg Cote
january 30, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inch
Noun
Be sure to broil the salmon at least six inches below the heating element to prevent the crust from burning.
—Martha Stewart, 5 Feb. 2026
Drake stopped a few inches shy of that.
—Tim Rohan, NBC news, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
This weekend’s chill is short-lived, though, as temperatures inch back towards normal early February levels next week.
—Newsroom Meteorologist, Houston Chronicle, 31 Jan. 2026
Trying to inch up out of play-in purgatory and matter.
—Greg Cote
january 30, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inch
Noun
-
Without that key step, you can’t be classified as a true star; the presence of those fusion reactions, where hydrogen gets fused into helium, separates stars from all other heavenly bodies.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The aircraft transitioned cleanly between modes, a step developers see as critical for scaling eVTOLs beyond short hops.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Early on in cosmic history, the Universe was composed primarily of hydrogen and helium, as no substantial quantities of heavier elements were formed during the early stages of the hot Big Bang.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Neither more nor less, really, at this stage.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The ball of the shoe to the heel has a tapered height, with the heel reaching three inches for a little extra thickness.—
Olivia Dubyak,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Yabusele is a 6-foot-7 forward who makes up for a slight lack of height with a powerful frame and aggressive approach around the basket.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As the Chinese men shoot the breeze and play cards, a mob of armed white miners gathers over the hill and encroaches on the unsuspecting outsiders.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Next to him on the catwalk-slash-stage, Marguerite LeRolland, senior global insight manager at data analytics firm Euromonitor, spoke about the shifting political landscape and encroaching economic pressures.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Demanding papers, dragging away dissenters.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Slave catchers could capture them, kidnap them and drag them back South.—
Jesse Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Her mom pushed back a stray hair and straightened the small chain with a crucifix around the girl’s neck.—
Alicia Victoria Lozano,
NBC news,
31 Jan. 2026
-
It’s designed with a round neck and a pleated, wavy texture that gives it an elevated look, perfect for dressier itineraries.—
Jasmine Gomez,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The off-campus event attended by the student who died was connected to the Theta Omega chapter of Delta Tau Delta International Fraternity at Northern Arizona University, according to Flagstaff police and the fraternity administration.—
Kathy Tulumello,
AZCentral.com,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Arrivals could signal to weary supporters that, while everyone knows how this story will end, Wolves would at least like to make the final couple of chapters entertaining.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Maybe the girl had crawled under a neighbor's trailer while playing hide-and-seek.—
Kristine Phillips,
IndyStar,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Well, there was a great deal left in me, in an agony of embarrassment looking around for that hole on the floor to crawl into.—
Natalia Sánchez Loayza,
Scientific American,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inch. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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