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
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Recent Examples of inched
Tasked with four outs, Hoffman inched Rogers Centre closer to an explosive celebration.
—
Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
Japan’s Nikkei 225 inched up as the Bank of Japan held rates steady.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2025
On a two-week basis, these rates have inched up 10 percent.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 29 Oct. 2025
The thumb and middle finger were the messiest — the center nail contained shades of green, blue and gold that spilled over her cuticle, while the metallic blue polish on her thumb inched close to her knuckle.
—Starr Bowenbank, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
Gas prices have inched up in Florida this week.
—Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2025
That’s after the consumer price index for September inched up but came in below forecasts, clearing the way for the Fed to focus more on the maximum-employment side of its mandate than the inflation-fighting side.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025
The average inched up to 353 on Wednesday.
—Rajeev Tyagi, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2025
The musical, which recently saw Odom return to the role of Aaron Burr, was the top-grossing show in the industry last week, as ticket prices also inched up to $350 and attendance stayed above 100 percent.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025
Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
Japan’s Nikkei 225 inched up as the Bank of Japan held rates steady.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2025
On a two-week basis, these rates have inched up 10 percent.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 29 Oct. 2025
The thumb and middle finger were the messiest — the center nail contained shades of green, blue and gold that spilled over her cuticle, while the metallic blue polish on her thumb inched close to her knuckle.
—Starr Bowenbank, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
Gas prices have inched up in Florida this week.
—Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2025
That’s after the consumer price index for September inched up but came in below forecasts, clearing the way for the Fed to focus more on the maximum-employment side of its mandate than the inflation-fighting side.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025
The average inched up to 353 on Wednesday.
—Rajeev Tyagi, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2025
The musical, which recently saw Odom return to the role of Aaron Burr, was the top-grossing show in the industry last week, as ticket prices also inched up to $350 and attendance stayed above 100 percent.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inched
Verb
-
Palace intrigue encroached on his confidence at times.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Lucah's second tooth had encroached, blocking the path for his right front tooth, which remains recessed in his gums, his mother said.—
Beth Warren,
Nashville Tennessean,
8 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Though some institutions have welcomed workers’ unions, others have dragged their feet.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Knocked unconscious, Will is then dragged by the Demogorgon to the lair of Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower).—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
One live roach crawled on the floor near the kitchen door.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Roaring out of the gates in Set 2, the Raiders mounted a commanding 10-2 lead, but the Storm went blow for blow with the Raiders and crawled back into the set.—
Andrew Cornelius,
Twin Cities,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
For many parts of the country, the average date of the first fall frost has passed, and the chill of autumn nights has already crept in, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.—
Stuart Dyos,
USA Today,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Pain crept into the set of his mouth.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Empty boxes were stacked along a side wall in the locker room as players shuffled in and out to pack up a season’s worth of shirts and jerseys and cleats and memorabilia.—
Nicki Jhabvala,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
-
First, the sophomore shuffled back into coverage after showing A-gap pressure to intercept a Bryce Underwood pass over the middle of the field, ending a key fourth-quarter drive.—
David Eckert,
Austin American Statesman,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Whoopi Goldberg, Emily Blunt and Natasha Lyonne were among the stars expressing their outrage, while Ryan Reynolds poked fun at Tilly in his new Mint Mobile ad.—
Diana Lodderhose,
Deadline,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Low branches poked at the roof of our boat and brushed our arms.—
Idra Novey,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inched. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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