Synonyms of inched

inched

verb

past tense of inch

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

• encroached
• crept
• snaked
• wormed
• sneaked
• invaded
• entrenched
• intruded
• impinged
• overshot
• infringed
• overstepped
• overran
• overreached
• overpassed

2

as in dragged

to move slowly

the car inched carefully across the snow-covered causeway

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dragged
• crawled
• crept
• shuffled
• poked
• limped
• slouched
• oozed
• nosed
• plodded
• creaked (along)
• snailed
• trudged
• shambled
• tramped
• lumbered

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• flew
• raced
• sped
• sailed
• floated
• whizzed
• hurried
• zipped
• glided
• tore

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of inched

His kick before the break from 59 yards out inched over the crossbar. — ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026

But the lead dwindled through four innings as the Brewers inched their way forward, tying the game in the fifth inning and taking the lead in the sixth with a solo home run from center fielder Garrett Mitchell. — Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026

Applications for unemployment benefits inched up last week as layoffs remain historically low and most American workers enjoy job security. — Matt Ott, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Brent crude oil futures inched up to around $106 at noon Thursday, testing October’s highs as markets continued to focus on mounting risks to supply in the Middle East. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026

As temperatures inched into the 90s last October, the military marched into Memphis. — Patrik Jonsson, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Oct. 2026

This is not uncommon — women make up 4% of laureates since the award’s inception, though that has inched up to 12% in the past decade. — O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026

The defense has inched closer to the line of scrimmage, leaving some gaps behind them. — Sam McDowell 7, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2026

Martin notes that the speed bump Skydance hit in the approval process — the antitrust lawsuit filed by 12 states — cost them probably another $500 million in higher interest fees on short-term debt as rates have inched up. — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026