1
as in encroaches
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
2
as in drags
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 inches
Michelle Baricevic, Travel + Leisure, 7 Jan. 2026
With the game tied at three in the final minutes, the noise level on the field sounded like multiple 747s were inches away from your ears.
—Mac Engel
january 7, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Jan. 2026
Remember, as little as 6 inches of moving water can knock you off your feet.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 7 Jan. 2026
Arena Mode pushes the display to a full 24 inches.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 7 Jan. 2026
Or left tackle Theo Benedet pulling into the open field in Cincinnati, sprinting well beyond the line of scrimmage, starting his block on Geno Stone 4 yards from the sideline, then mauling the Bengals safety within inches of a bench.
—Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Even just 6 inches of swiftly moving water can forcefully knock you off your feet.
—Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026
However, isolated locations could pick up a quick 1 to 2 inches.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 10 Nov. 2025
Lake Tahoe could receive 1 to 3 inches of slushy snow.
—Sirena Bergman, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Newsweek Editors, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
The news comes as Hendricks Commercial Properties inches closer to a massive overhaul of the mall that could take years to complete.
—Jenny Porter Tilley, IndyStar, 21 Nov. 2025
Clemson also inches back up into the top 50 for beating Florida State.
—Chris Vannini, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
As Congress inches closer to a possible government shutdown, many federal services North Carolinians depend on might be disrupted.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 30 Sep. 2025
Williams edged the Bills’ Josh Allen and Ravens’ Lamar Jackson for the honor, while Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa inches up one spot to 18th overall.
—Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2025
With BeyondMimic, that vision inches closer to becoming everyday technology.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2025
Noun
Plus, the bottom of the bag can be expanded an additional four inches, giving you even more filling and packing capacity.
—Michelle Baricevic, Travel + Leisure, 7 Jan. 2026
With the game tied at three in the final minutes, the noise level on the field sounded like multiple 747s were inches away from your ears.
—Mac Engel
january 7, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Jan. 2026
Remember, as little as 6 inches of moving water can knock you off your feet.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 7 Jan. 2026
Arena Mode pushes the display to a full 24 inches.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 7 Jan. 2026
Or left tackle Theo Benedet pulling into the open field in Cincinnati, sprinting well beyond the line of scrimmage, starting his block on Geno Stone 4 yards from the sideline, then mauling the Bengals safety within inches of a bench.
—Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Even just 6 inches of swiftly moving water can forcefully knock you off your feet.
—Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026
However, isolated locations could pick up a quick 1 to 2 inches.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 10 Nov. 2025
Lake Tahoe could receive 1 to 3 inches of slushy snow.
—Sirena Bergman, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Verb
Republicans can comfort themselves that a win is still a win—and that their House majority inches up to 220–213, at least until other vacancies kick in.
—Newsweek Editors, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
The news comes as Hendricks Commercial Properties inches closer to a massive overhaul of the mall that could take years to complete.
—Jenny Porter Tilley, IndyStar, 21 Nov. 2025
Clemson also inches back up into the top 50 for beating Florida State.
—Chris Vannini, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
As Congress inches closer to a possible government shutdown, many federal services North Carolinians depend on might be disrupted.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 30 Sep. 2025
Williams edged the Bills’ Josh Allen and Ravens’ Lamar Jackson for the honor, while Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa inches up one spot to 18th overall.
—Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2025
With BeyondMimic, that vision inches closer to becoming everyday technology.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inches
Noun
-
After tumbling from a 50-foot height, Dan Aykroyd walked away convinced that a higher power had caught him.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Their mom, Alyssa Crawford, shared two images of herself with her daughter Violet, with text alluding to the 4-year-old’s height being smaller than her peers.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Cloud Dancer, a white that is both warm and cool, reflects an overwhelmed feeling among consumers as the world feels louder and technology, in particular AI, encroaches further into our lives.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
4 Dec. 2025
-
As the third weekend of November encroaches upon us, so does the holiday season — and streaming networks are picking up the cheer in full swing.—
Rebecca Aizin,
PEOPLE,
14 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Iwobi’s movement drags Ladislav Krejci wider, increasing the space between the lines and creating a clear passing angle for Calvin Bassey.—
Ahmed Walid,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
This not-quite-title song, which is nearly eight minutes long, is a sort of mini-suite, opening with a dog barking, giving way to an acoustic-guitar melody accompanying polyphonic vocals, then becoming electric and crashingly alive, until the relentless screech of a guitar drags you to the end.—
Hanif Abdurraqib,
New Yorker,
18 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
In the high country, 5-10 inches is expected for Vail Pass and near the Eisenhower Tunnel, with 4–8 inches at lower elevations.—
Joe Ruch,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Rock is eroded from the higher-elevation land into the basin, which also fills with the organic remains of plants and animals.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Since the holidays, many of us have spent winter days cooped up inside, shuttling between work, school and home while the calendar crawls toward spring.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
-
In Elf, while Santa (the late Ed Asner) is setting out toys at an orphanage on Christmas Eve, Buddy (Will Ferrell) crawls into his sack.—
Victoria Edel,
PEOPLE,
23 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Move too far away from it and the outside chill creeps in.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
23 Dec. 2025
-
Depop determined that, as decision fatigue creeps into even the act of getting dressed, reliable replicas (think tailored trousers, sharp outerwear, crisp button-downs) will become the backbone of Gen Z wardrobes.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
22 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Is every head that pokes in to look at me actually Frank himself?—
Shane Kowalski,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
-
The Aries moon pokes holes in old insecurities about competence and productivity.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
28 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inches. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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