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
Relevance
2
as in dragged
to move slowly
the car inched carefully across the snow-covered causeway
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of inched
Stocks inched higher after the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite each closed at new all-time highs on Wednesday.
—
Jim Cramer, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2026
In the first quarter of 2026, California saw a 14 percent decline in filming in the state even as its production spend inched up 2 percent, according to a report from ProdPro.
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 15 Apr. 2026
The Saint Pyrenees—which Tabitha and Henry agreed now was number one, the best dog—had inched his gigantic head imperceptibly closer and closer until he’d snuck a morsel of ham from her plate.
—Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
Since then, his approval rating in the poll has dropped five points, while his disapproval score has inched up by the same number of points.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2026
Oklahoma schools could see increased days in session, state tests in the final weeks of the academic year and fewer adjunct teachers providing core curriculum instruction after several bills inched closer to the governor's desk Tuesday, April 7.
—Alexia Aston, Oklahoman, 7 Apr. 2026
Oil prices dipped and stocks inched higher on hopes for an 11th-hour ceasefire between Washington and Tehran, even as damage to Gulf oil and gas infrastructure mounted.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Elsewhere, Lazio was held to 1-1 by Parma, which inched seven points above the drop zone.
—ABC News, 4 Apr. 2026
Gas prices have inched up a couple of cents from last week, getting closer to $4 a gallon in Florida.
—Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
Jim Cramer, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2026
In the first quarter of 2026, California saw a 14 percent decline in filming in the state even as its production spend inched up 2 percent, according to a report from ProdPro.
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 15 Apr. 2026
The Saint Pyrenees—which Tabitha and Henry agreed now was number one, the best dog—had inched his gigantic head imperceptibly closer and closer until he’d snuck a morsel of ham from her plate.
—Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
Since then, his approval rating in the poll has dropped five points, while his disapproval score has inched up by the same number of points.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2026
Oklahoma schools could see increased days in session, state tests in the final weeks of the academic year and fewer adjunct teachers providing core curriculum instruction after several bills inched closer to the governor's desk Tuesday, April 7.
—Alexia Aston, Oklahoman, 7 Apr. 2026
Oil prices dipped and stocks inched higher on hopes for an 11th-hour ceasefire between Washington and Tehran, even as damage to Gulf oil and gas infrastructure mounted.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Elsewhere, Lazio was held to 1-1 by Parma, which inched seven points above the drop zone.
—ABC News, 4 Apr. 2026
Gas prices have inched up a couple of cents from last week, getting closer to $4 a gallon in Florida.
—Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inched
Verb
-
On their endless search for nutrients, hyphae encroached into empty spaces.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
6 Apr. 2026
-
But ever since, the family has alleged individuals have encroached on their beach, forcing them to put up no trespassing signs and hire private security, according to a supplemental complaint filed by Brian against the Walton County Sheriff’s Office last year.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The officer grabbed me and said 'you're arrested,' and just put me in handcuffs and drug and dragged me out.—
Mahsa Saeidi,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Baker, still by himself, grabbed Rivera’s bulletproof vest and dragged her to the first-floor lobby, where he was met by other responding Chicago Police Department officers.—
Sam Charles,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Margot, who works for a social-media platform called Kino and shares a New Orleans apartment with her bestie, Ryan (Aaron Holliday), has only just crawled out of a dark period and doesn’t require much to teeter back in.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
10 Apr. 2026
-
As a toddler, Gabriela crawled about the UCLA clubhouse at reunions.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As the '80s gave way to the '90s and, later, the new millennium crept in, all-male singing groups became a defining part of pop culture.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Even so, a little magic has crept into the proceedings, with some brands concealing their cleverness in plain sight and others putting more of the horological art on display.—
Oren Hartov,
Robb Report,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
For weeks, Isaiah Mosley shuffled into the morning chaos of the Miami criminal courthouse.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Born from the embers of the eighties band Talulah Gosh, Heavenly, led by the singer and guitarist Amelia Fletcher, shuffled forward with her riffy, effervescent playing style, gradually growing more sophisticated across four LPs and an EP, without any loss of buoyancy.—
Hilton Als,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Lakers guard reached and poked the ball away.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The couple poked fun at the social media conversation surrounding them in an Instagram Reel.—
Athena Sobhan,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inched. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
