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
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 inches
Tim Parks, New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2026
Michigan Department of Natural Resources The governor's office said Friday that the Cheboygan River had risen to 18 inches below the top of the dam.
—Nick Lentz, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2026
Simply grab a ruler, pen, and blank sheet of paper to illustrate your space by substituting the dimensions of the room in feet for inches.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2026
There were 16 inches of counter space next to the right side of the sink.
—Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 11 Apr. 2026
Opt for large pots that hold at least five gallons of soil and measure 18 inches deep by 24 inches wide.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Apr. 2026
Remember, as little as 6 inches of moving water can knock you off your feet.
—Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2026
Some people set their fabric pots in a child’s wading pool, filled with a few inches of water, to keep pots consistently damp.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
Then till the soil several inches deep.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026
Erin Jones, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026
Following a bout of social media virality, a scout with Troop 71047 named Pim has sold over 100,000 boxes of cookies and counting, and every sale inches her closer to breaking the record for most Girl Scout Cookies ever sold.
—Kate Perez, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
Sierra Canyon will host Crespi on Saturday as the team inches closer to an undefeated Mission League campaign.
—Dan Lovi, Daily News, 22 Jan. 2026
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
Noun
The sound box had a teardrop shape, just a couple of inches deep, with a golden-brown polyurethane finish that darkened to black at the edges.
—Tim Parks, New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2026
Michigan Department of Natural Resources The governor's office said Friday that the Cheboygan River had risen to 18 inches below the top of the dam.
—Nick Lentz, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2026
Simply grab a ruler, pen, and blank sheet of paper to illustrate your space by substituting the dimensions of the room in feet for inches.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2026
There were 16 inches of counter space next to the right side of the sink.
—Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 11 Apr. 2026
Opt for large pots that hold at least five gallons of soil and measure 18 inches deep by 24 inches wide.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Apr. 2026
Remember, as little as 6 inches of moving water can knock you off your feet.
—Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2026
Some people set their fabric pots in a child’s wading pool, filled with a few inches of water, to keep pots consistently damp.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
Then till the soil several inches deep.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026
Verb
The car inches forward but does not clear the way.
—Erin Jones, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026
Following a bout of social media virality, a scout with Troop 71047 named Pim has sold over 100,000 boxes of cookies and counting, and every sale inches her closer to breaking the record for most Girl Scout Cookies ever sold.
—Kate Perez, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
Sierra Canyon will host Crespi on Saturday as the team inches closer to an undefeated Mission League campaign.
—Dan Lovi, Daily News, 22 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inches
Noun
-
Noah Baumbach reached new heights with this bittersweet examination of a relationship in the aftermath of a breaking point.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Apr. 2026
-
This building has a diameter of 80 feet and a height of 100 feet.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As the Chinese men shoot the breeze and play cards, a mob of armed white miners gathers over the hill and encroaches on the unsuspecting outsiders.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
26 Jan. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Trump has issued conflicting and confusing statements about possible talks as the war drags, including extending deadlines for a deal, which might lead Iran to discount his dire new threats.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
However, many experts say Dubai’s image as a haven will be in doubt the longer the war drags on.—
Manal Albarakati,
semafor.com,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Built on a former quarry, there are rocky elevations to traipse up with amazing views of the city, including Sacre Couer in nearby Montmartre.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Its portfolio is rich in deep reds that thrive in higher elevation climates, can handle the heat and sometimes appreciate diverse soil, such as zinfandel, syrah and cabernet sauvignon.—
Nora Heston Tarte,
Mercury News,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Think about how often your toddler crawls near the dog bed or your kids toss pet toys around the living room.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Apr. 2026
-
In the book, Grace drags Rocky back to his part of the ship, exposing himself to the Eridian environment; in the film, Rocky crawls back while Grace is unconscious.—
Matthew Razak,
Space.com,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The bottom line Concentration risk often creeps into your portfolio over time.—
Doug Ashburn,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
-
But as Mecklenburg County’s sprawl creeps its way into Union County, leaders are looking for ways to preserve the area’s rural feel the farmland that supports it.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The clip also pokes fun at Roach's retirement announcement in 2023, only to return to the industry two years later.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Your 6th House of Health takes focus with the nurturing Moon there, though Luna also pokes expensive Jupiter in your 3rd House of Distractions.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inches. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
