inching 1 of 2

adjective

1
as in imperceptible

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2
as in ambling

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Dissimilar Words

inching

2 of 2

verb

present participle of inch
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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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 inching
Verb
Wallen has a pair of singles inching their way toward becoming top 10 smashes on the busiest radio tally in the nation. — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026 With Snell working back and Tyler Glasnow inching closer to facing live hitters, the Dodgers’ brass hopes to have their starting staff back at full strength by late August. — Katie Woo, New York Times, 19 July 2026 The fitness legend began inching back into the spotlight in 2024 and was working on a Broadway musical of his life story at the time of his death. — Kelly Allen, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026 The line is inching along slowly, and the clouds are threatening rain, but no one seems bothered. — Natan Dvir, Curbed, 13 July 2026 SpaceX — Elon Musk’s rocket company tumbled to a fresh post-IPO low, inching closer to its offering price of $135. — Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 13 July 2026 Now in its 118th season, Quassy Amusement Park on Lake Quassapaug in Connecticut claimed the top spot, inching out major parks across the country. — Carly Caramanna, Travel + Leisure, 13 July 2026 With the salary cap inching, rather than leaping, upwards, those motivations have only become stronger. — Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 9 July 2026 Royals manager Matt Quatraro announced that first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino is inching closer to returning from his injury. — Kansas City Star, 9 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inching
  1. imperceptible
  2. plodding
  3. encroaching
  4. dragging
  5. tapered
  6. lingering
  7. creeping
  8. loitering
Adjective
  • The contact was imperceptible to the naked eye, but a space-age sensor in the ball had confirmed it.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026
  • The tool, developed by independent AI engineer Luke Geel, analyzes past results and players’ activity—from posture to blink rate—spotting connections that might be imperceptible to the average viewer but visible to top pros.
    — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 3 July 2026
Definition of imperceptible
Adjective
  • The audience was still as the band started playing a plodding rhythm.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 July 2026
  • Brunson was too small (6-foot-2), not long enough (with a 6-foot-4 wingspan) and too plodding.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 3 June 2026
Definition of plodding
Verb
  • Meanwhile, rescues and evacuations were underway in northern Minnesota, where over a dozen fires caused by lightning strikes were burning and encroaching on remote campsites.
    — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 16 July 2026
  • Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett told lawmakers Tuesday that a sharp increase in threats targeting her and other justices is increasingly encroaching on their personal and family lives.
    — Lindsay Whitehurst, Fortune, 14 July 2026
Definition of encroaching
Verb
  • This seems especially true if there are hiccups in correct window measurement or ordering, which can lead to long delays and projects dragging on and on.
    — Jason Rueger, USA Today, 29 July 2026
  • At Seabright State Beach in Santa Cruz County, a lifeguard was captured on video dragging a boy out of the water in a harrowing rescue.
    — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 28 July 2026
Definition of dragging
Adjective
  • Her warm metallic heels had the same thick platform, tall tapered heel and straps crossing the toes, instep and ankle.
    — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 30 July 2026
  • Libin Joggers These tapered joggers are made from a wrinkle-resistant material and have a loose fit around the leg and a stretchy waistband for a comfortable fit.
    — Rylee Johnston, Travel + Leisure, 25 July 2026
Definition of tapered
Adjective
  • Communities near the Canadian fires could see lingering impacts into the weekend as long as fires continue burning and winds keep transporting smoke south.
    — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 15 July 2026
  • Thomas missed 57 games last season, mostly because of the same lingering left hamstring issue.
    — C.J. Holmes, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2026
Definition of lingering
Verb
  • Many of the dummies evolved admirably over the competition’s final hour, complete with fine laugh lines and subtle details like creeping wisps of nose hair, which were gingerly applied with tweezers and Krazy Glue.
    — John Semley, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026
  • The surge in short interest coincides with a decidedly bearish sentiment creeping into what had been a relentlessly bullish AI trade.
    — Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 23 July 2026
Definition of creeping
Adjective
  • Some victim advocates say human trafficking along Figueroa has escalated since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the rollback of anti-loitering laws.
    — Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of loitering

Browse Nearby Words

inches
inching
inchmeal
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Cite this Entry

“Inching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inching. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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