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
Relevance
2
as in dragging
to move slowly
the car inched carefully across the snow-covered causeway
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in imperceptible
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
2
as in ambling
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of inching
Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
Here is where Orwell became radicalized by empathy, inching one step closer to being a sharp chronicler of misery, humanity, and his era.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2025
Even now, when Waymos are inching their way into the mainstream, the company has been hypercautious.
—Saahil Desai, The Atlantic, 2 Oct. 2025
The federal government is inching closer toward a possible shutdown.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 30 Sep. 2025
Each heat consists of 25 worms inching their way to the top.
—Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2025
As Southern California nears the heart of wildfire season, rebuilding is merely inching forward in areas hit by the most destructive conflagrations in Los Angeles history.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
Before long, the fox started recognizing her voice and inching closer, until his visits became part of the couple’s daily routine.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025
This offense, which ran those plays like core concepts during training camp, is inching closer to its identity; an identity influenced by McDaniels’ top lieutenants who have experience in offenses that sprouted from the Shanahan tree.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
The report helped to lift Tesla (TSLA) shares about 2% in early trading Thursday, inching near its record high reached in December.
—Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
Here is where Orwell became radicalized by empathy, inching one step closer to being a sharp chronicler of misery, humanity, and his era.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2025
Even now, when Waymos are inching their way into the mainstream, the company has been hypercautious.
—Saahil Desai, The Atlantic, 2 Oct. 2025
The federal government is inching closer toward a possible shutdown.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 30 Sep. 2025
Each heat consists of 25 worms inching their way to the top.
—Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2025
As Southern California nears the heart of wildfire season, rebuilding is merely inching forward in areas hit by the most destructive conflagrations in Los Angeles history.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
Before long, the fox started recognizing her voice and inching closer, until his visits became part of the couple’s daily routine.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025
This offense, which ran those plays like core concepts during training camp, is inching closer to its identity; an identity influenced by McDaniels’ top lieutenants who have experience in offenses that sprouted from the Shanahan tree.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inching
Verb
-
The atmosphere of a Gothic novel creeps over you; encroaching mist along the outcroppings.—
Leanna Renee Hieber,
Big Think,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Bogard ventured to Chile to see how light pollution is encroaching on astronomy and changing our sense of place in the universe, perhaps irrevocably.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
For Thiago’s second goal midway through the first half, Ouattara ambled back towards his own goal down the centre of the pitch, dragging Shaw and Dorgu with him.—
Conor O'Neill,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
-
The clip ends with the owner managing to open the door—dragging the golden retriever along with it—as their other pets enter the frame to see them off.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Then, instead of the tell-tale metal frame of futons in your college days, this sturdy metal frame is imperceptible, but can be adjusted into four different positions, including the fully flat full-size bed.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
19 Sep. 2025
-
By synthesizing data streams from multiple sources, AI can identify patterns and trends that would be imperceptible to human clinicians.—
Kent Dicks,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The latest forecast shows Imelda creeping along Florida’s coast for the next few days — a slowdown from Saturday’s forecast.—
Alex Harris
Updated September 28,
Miami Herald,
28 Sep. 2025
-
First, during this same time, genre elements, and specifically dark speculative elements, were creeping into all fiction.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Occasionally, as in the obscurity of Legion’s later episodes or the plodding pace of some Fargo plots, this approach can verge on self-indulgence.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
For a child who’s crawling or walking, a mat with pop-up walls or fencing can keep your little one safe and contained.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Waking up an hour earlier than expected and being hosed with mountain runoff water while crawling in the pool tested my resilience and determination.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
With clean lines, chevron tufting, and tapered legs, this piece blends modern and mid-century style for a timeless look that works with just about any décor.—
Toni Sutton,
PEOPLE,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Kim Petras brought a dose of fetish romanticism to Paris on Saturday, arriving at Ann Demeulemeester’s spring 2026 show in the house’s Hilla boots — a silver lace-up ankle style set on a tapered stiletto heel.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
To him, the equipment staff shuffling pieces around on the field during practice is just as important as the head coach standing by.—
Christopher Kamrani,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
During the 2024 rampage, two suspects wearing masks were captured on surveillance video shuffling up a driveway and firing weapons towards the home.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inching. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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