1
as in imperceptible
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Dissimilar Words
2
as in ambling
Related Words
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inching
Olivia Young, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2026
The baby news is a happy story for Plaza, who has been inching back into the spotlight this year.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2026
Gonzaga was still inching along in its build, and Few was smart enough to recognize his program had to think outside the box to build its roster.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2026
While Florida will miss the playoffs for the first time in four years, Pittsburgh is inching toward a return to the postseason after three straight absences.
—ABC News, 4 Apr. 2026
Comcast owns a handful of networks but has been slowly inching away from the RSN world.
—Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2026
With the 2028 presidential election inching closer every day, Don Lemon is the latest public figure to flirt with running for office.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026
The Huskies rejoiced in inching one step closer to capturing back-to-back national championships.
—Megan Armstrong, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
The team is inching toward making history for Fort Worth ISD, as the district has never had a boys soccer state champion.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
The school district's board of education is inching closer to asking voters to consider an MLO in November.
—Olivia Young, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2026
The baby news is a happy story for Plaza, who has been inching back into the spotlight this year.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2026
Gonzaga was still inching along in its build, and Few was smart enough to recognize his program had to think outside the box to build its roster.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2026
While Florida will miss the playoffs for the first time in four years, Pittsburgh is inching toward a return to the postseason after three straight absences.
—ABC News, 4 Apr. 2026
Comcast owns a handful of networks but has been slowly inching away from the RSN world.
—Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2026
With the 2028 presidential election inching closer every day, Don Lemon is the latest public figure to flirt with running for office.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026
The Huskies rejoiced in inching one step closer to capturing back-to-back national championships.
—Megan Armstrong, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
The team is inching toward making history for Fort Worth ISD, as the district has never had a boys soccer state champion.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inching
Adjective
-
And each movement aroused an urge to move in the woman lying above, as if an avalanche of imperceptible but palpable vibrations had been triggered.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Apr. 2026
-
No one responded to Louise, but Bruce smiled an almost imperceptible smile.—
Catherine Lacey,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Since September, Rwanda’s government has been mapping agricultural land and using satellite imagery to track any development encroaching on farmlands and forests in a country where the population is expected to reach 22 million in a couple of years.—
Evelyne Musambi,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Since September, Rwanda's government has been mapping agricultural land and using satellite imagery to track any development encroaching on farmlands and forests in a country where the population is expected to reach 22 million in a couple of years.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
While some Lebanese people support Hezbollah, some also blame the group for dragging them into yet another war.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Community meetings about data centers nationwide are growing chaotic and contentious, with reports of police dragging residents outside and council members being threatened.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
His jogging gait is a bit plodding.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Mar. 2026
-
His two-time matchup was Alejandro Kirk, an excellent hitter but, at 5-foot-8 and 245 pounds, a plodding runner.—
Tyler Kepner,
New York Times,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The footage showed Miles tied up to a punching bag while being interrogated by Uncle Aaron and Prowler Miles creeping above on the ceiling.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Rich, neutral, moist, well-draining Sedum (also known as stonecrop) comes in creeping or upright varieties.—
Peg Aloi,
The Spruce,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
No extra fabric pooling at the ankles; just a clean, tapered fit with no hemming needed.—
Rylee Johnston,
PEOPLE,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Kirk and other retailers say that sales of tabletop items — everything from tapered candles to plates — are rapid-fire growth drivers, outpacing other categories of decor like bedding and decorative objects.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
On the one hand, that means that many survive the disease without serious lingering effects.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
18 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The town was crawling with boy band members, Mickey Mouse Clubbers and future Disney Channel stars.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Apr. 2026
-
An 18-month-old child sustained minor injuries after crawling under a fence at Zoo America in Pennsylvania and approaching a wolf enclosure.—
Kayla Hayempour,
NBC news,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inching. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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