1
as in encroached
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
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2
as in dragged
to move slowly
the car inched carefully across the snow-covered causeway
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inched
Since the Labour Party took office in 2024, average weekly pay, adjusted for inflation and excluding bonuses, has inched up less than 1% to £494 ($651), according to the UK statistics office — hardly better than the growth since 2019.
—
Hanna Ziady,
CNN Money,
23 June 2026
Kylian Mbappé passed Pelé on the World Cup goal-scoring list and inched closer to setting the overall goal record for the tournament.
—
CBS News,
22 June 2026
The draw inched Cape Verde closer to the knockout stage.
—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
22 June 2026
Now, in a new interview with Esquire, Holland inched ever so slightly closer towards that elusive official confirmation while, impressively, still maintaining plenty of ambiguity.
—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
16 June 2026
The players were participating in a warm-up drill; the circle inched forward as the Americans headed or kicked the ball to each other.
—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
11 June 2026
One reason is likely that Southern California pay raises are just barely outpacing inflation, so your paycheck’s buying power has only inched up.
—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
8 June 2026
Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average inched down 30 points.
—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
31 May 2026
Housing plans Prospects for Pritzker’s ambitious package of proposals to build more housing in Illinois seemed murky Friday, though several pieces of legislation have inched forward in recent days.
—
Jeremy Gorner,
Chicago Tribune,
30 May 2026
Hanna Ziady,
CNN Money,
23 June 2026
Kylian Mbappé passed Pelé on the World Cup goal-scoring list and inched closer to setting the overall goal record for the tournament.
—
CBS News,
22 June 2026
The draw inched Cape Verde closer to the knockout stage.
—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
22 June 2026
Now, in a new interview with Esquire, Holland inched ever so slightly closer towards that elusive official confirmation while, impressively, still maintaining plenty of ambiguity.
—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
16 June 2026
The players were participating in a warm-up drill; the circle inched forward as the Americans headed or kicked the ball to each other.
—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
11 June 2026
One reason is likely that Southern California pay raises are just barely outpacing inflation, so your paycheck’s buying power has only inched up.
—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
8 June 2026
Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average inched down 30 points.
—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
31 May 2026
Housing plans Prospects for Pritzker’s ambitious package of proposals to build more housing in Illinois seemed murky Friday, though several pieces of legislation have inched forward in recent days.
—
Jeremy Gorner,
Chicago Tribune,
30 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inched
Verb
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Ditching a 90-year-old decision, the court said restrictions Congress placed on a president’s ability to remove members of independent agencies like the Federal Trade Commission encroached on presidential power.
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Dominik Livakovic saved Harry Kane’s first attempt, but a retake was ordered because the goalkeeper had moved off his line and defender Josko Gvardiol had encroached into the area early before clearing the rebound.
Verb
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When Twain lunched with Theodore Roosevelt, he was dismayed that the president dragged in his Rough Rider exploits in Cuba three or four times.
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The bureau said government spending, exports, consumer spending all drove real GDP growth, while imports dragged.
Verb
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So, while the Dodgers crawled out of the hole with a season-high 17 hits, the steep cost heightens the pressure on the rest of the rotation the rest of the series.
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Unlike text or images, robotic manipulation data cannot be crawled from the internet.
Verb
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When the rain cleared, an American flag that covered most of the outfield was unfurled during the national anthem, and the fog slowly crept in.
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Vozinha crept toward Messi, rather than wait on his back foot, and stuffed Messi’s right-footed shot.
Verb
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Sarah was sent to a mental hospital, and the boys were shuffled among family members, ending up with their penniless grandmother in Kentucky.
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As soon as the game wrapped up, those guests shuffled out, and hours later were replaced by a rowdier group ordering shots at the bar, dancing to 2000s hits in front of the DJ booth and smoking vape pens on the outdoor patio.
Verb
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But Ecuador’s Gonzalo Plata stuck up his left foot, just in front of Neuer, and poked the ball into the net.
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In the third round, Magomedov poked Pereira in the eye, forcing a roughly two-minute pause, and still no point came off.
Cite this Entry
“Inched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inched. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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