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
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Recent Examples of inch
Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 4 June 2026
The beast was 55 inches long with a 41-inch girth.
—Ken Perrotte, Outdoor Life, 4 June 2026
Radier Odhiambo, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 May 2026
Every stretch had brought its own challenges, but these past few days had been especially brutal, the crewmembers fording streams, inching through hub-deep mud, sleeping in the car, dodging hail under rubber blankets, catching a night’s rest at a farmhouse as violent rain pounded the roof.
—Eric Moskowitz, The Atlantic, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for inch
Noun
This structural silhouette has a deep seat—35 inches—for easy lounging.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 4 June 2026
The beast was 55 inches long with a 41-inch girth.
—Ken Perrotte, Outdoor Life, 4 June 2026
Verb
Lines of cars inch forward with flags draped from windows, their horns blaring in rhythm with rousing chants.
—Radier Odhiambo, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 May 2026
Every stretch had brought its own challenges, but these past few days had been especially brutal, the crewmembers fording streams, inching through hub-deep mud, sleeping in the car, dodging hail under rubber blankets, catching a night’s rest at a farmhouse as violent rain pounded the roof.
—Eric Moskowitz, The Atlantic, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for inch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inch
Noun
-
The sources described it as a preliminary operation laying the groundwork for additional steps by installing listening devices and intelligence equipment in the area.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
5 June 2026
-
Scroll back to the top of the page and complete step 2.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 June 2026
Noun
-
Yao was discussing the next stage of AI development on-stage Friday with Tencent’s Cloud executive Dowson Tong at the company’s event in Beijing co-organized with local authorities.—
Evelyn Cheng,Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
5 June 2026
-
The movie is a straightforward and durable adaptation — Jolie’s electric performance won her an Oscar — but bringing the material to the stage has allowed a more fungible approach to the material, to both capture what happened to Kaysen and express what was flowing through her mind.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
5 June 2026
Noun
-
Following a resurgence during the pandemic, participation numbers hit record heights last year.—
Jack Bantock,
CNN Money,
5 June 2026
-
These remind me of hers, but with a more approachable kitten heel height.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
Immersive experiences like Meow Wolf, Activate Games, or the Sphere in Las Vegas are also encroaching, offering visitors something truly novel (no offense to funnel cakes).—
HubSpot,
HubSpot,
1 June 2026
-
In Kalokol, a major fishing community on the lake's western shore, many have now been displaced three times as the waters continue to encroach.—
Tommy Trenchard,
NPR,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
The weakness spread across the sector, dragging the VanEck Semiconductor ETF down more than 1%, while Arm Holdings lost over 4% and Micron Technology slid nearly 8%.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
5 June 2026
-
Before long, security surrounded the former fan favorite and dragged him out of the arena in handcuffs as stunned fans watched.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
The autopsy documented a ligature mark around Parker’s neck and fractures and hemorrhaging consistent with hanging.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 May 2026
-
Paul Anthony Kelly is spotted on the streets of New York City on May 26 rocking a boat-neck navy sweater, black glasses and a big smile.—
People Staff,
PEOPLE,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
And as the graduation caps flew high, Marcelo knows this will be a new chapter in his life and a new perspective.—
Paul Burton,
CBS News,
31 May 2026
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While graduation marks the end of one financial chapter, these are some of the next important financial decisions a young adult will face.—
VaNessa Duplessie,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
While some political observers are brushing off speculation that a deluge of ballots could allow Steyer to crawl into the top two, conservative activists are keeping a close watch.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
5 June 2026
-
The next day, with water levels having dropped inside the cave, the remaining four men caught rescuers by surprise, crawling out on their own just as divers were getting ready to go in and get them.—
Janis Mackey Frayer,
NBC news,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inch. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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