1
as in imperceptible
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2
as in ambling
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in encroaching
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 dragging
to move slowly
the car inched carefully across the snow-covered causeway
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Recent Examples of inching
Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 8 Jan. 2026
The Knicks are also inching closer to Josh Hart’s return from a severe ankle sprain sustained on Christmas Day against the Cavaliers.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 5 Jan. 2026
McKinney National Airport is steadily inching closer to becoming the third commercial airport in the D-FW metro area later this year.
—Dallas Morning News, 1 Jan. 2026
Trump has been pushing for a deal to end the almost four-year-long war, and in recent weeks peace efforts led by Witkoff and Kushner have been slowly inching forward.
—Reuters, NBC news, 25 Dec. 2025
Male contraception options are limited to condoms and vasectomies, but a male birth control pill is inching closer to reality.
—Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 23 Dec. 2025
The Texans ultimately beat the Chiefs 20–10, dropping Kansas City to 6-7 and inching them closer to the edge of playoff contention.
—Bryan West, Nashville Tennessean, 12 Dec. 2025
The Fed cited moderate economic growth, slower job gains and an unemployment rate that's inching up as reasons for the cut.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025
And while senators appear to be inching toward a deal this week, the progress is fragile and a breakthrough far from certain.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
The move signals the governor is inching closer to a full mobilization of the state’s National Guard in response to the death of Renee Nicole Good, who was killed by an ICE officer after allegedly trying to run him over.
—Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 8 Jan. 2026
The Knicks are also inching closer to Josh Hart’s return from a severe ankle sprain sustained on Christmas Day against the Cavaliers.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 5 Jan. 2026
McKinney National Airport is steadily inching closer to becoming the third commercial airport in the D-FW metro area later this year.
—Dallas Morning News, 1 Jan. 2026
Trump has been pushing for a deal to end the almost four-year-long war, and in recent weeks peace efforts led by Witkoff and Kushner have been slowly inching forward.
—Reuters, NBC news, 25 Dec. 2025
Male contraception options are limited to condoms and vasectomies, but a male birth control pill is inching closer to reality.
—Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 23 Dec. 2025
The Texans ultimately beat the Chiefs 20–10, dropping Kansas City to 6-7 and inching them closer to the edge of playoff contention.
—Bryan West, Nashville Tennessean, 12 Dec. 2025
The Fed cited moderate economic growth, slower job gains and an unemployment rate that's inching up as reasons for the cut.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025
And while senators appear to be inching toward a deal this week, the progress is fragile and a breakthrough far from certain.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inching
Adjective
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The almost imperceptible pigment is an immediate boost of pore- and fine line-blurring prowess.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
6 Jan. 2026
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Our data about the Amundsen Sea’s past and the resulting forecast indicate that onshore changes in West Antarctica will not be slow, gradual or imperceptible from a human perspective.—
Keiji Horikawa,
The Conversation,
22 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Nobody wants to deal with our old devil, even if the new one comes with an encroaching open threat actively bubbling in the Caribbean and Latin America at large.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Gamers aren’t exactly optimistic about AI encroaching on the experience, especially amid deep confusion over how exactly developers and studios are looking to leverage the tech.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Kerra, the dog referenced in the video, had developed a grapefruit-sized mass on her breast tissue that was dragging on the ground and causing significant discomfort.—
J.D. Miles,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
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That takes nothing away, though, from the epic job Herbert did dragging the Chargers through the second half of the season.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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But the small lineup has helped with spacing, creating more driving lanes for Dent while also allowing Bilodeau to beat more plodding counterparts on offense.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
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Wisconsin was one of the nation’s most plodding teams under former coach Bo Ryan and continued that way under former assistant Greg Gard, as recently as two seasons ago ranking in the 300s in Division I in tempo.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Grow as a creeping vine or along a trellis.—
Miranda Crowell,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Jan. 2026
-
What’s that warmth creeping over you?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The ruching around the waist is incredibly flattering, as are the tapered sleeves.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Jan. 2026
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Draffan called out the exaggerated, tapered carrot-leg styles that seen at Marni and at the S/S ’26 Celine show.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
On the one hand, that means that many survive the disease without serious lingering effects.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
18 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Now, Letts has brought Coon back to Broadway with the Main Stem debut of his 1996 play Bug, a skin-crawling portrayal of people on the fringes.—
Juan A. Ramírez,
Vogue,
9 Jan. 2026
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Here, there's a skin-crawling effect to watching the story unfold onstage.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inching. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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