1
as in imperceptible
Related Words
Relevance
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
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 inching
Eve Chen, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2026
Bitcoin is surging, inching closer to $76,000.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2026
Michael King appears to be inching closer to his 2024 excellence.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
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
Verb
However, the top end is inching upward with a 10% increase over 2025’s highest prices.
—Eve Chen, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2026
Bitcoin is surging, inching closer to $76,000.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2026
Michael King appears to be inching closer to his 2024 excellence.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inching
Adjective
-
Because there are no limits on call time, the transition from customer service to therapy was often imperceptible.—
Julian Lucas,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Drummers’ timekeeping is fluid; even at its most rocksteady, it’s enlivened by tiny, imperceptible pauses and hiccups.—
Philip Sherburne,
Pitchfork,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The unusual crash underscores a growing problem across North Texas, where invasive wild pigs — now found in nearly every county — are increasingly encroaching on neighborhoods and roadways, causing damage, safety concerns and costly disruptions.—
Matthew Ablon,
CBS News,
15 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.—
Evelyne Musambi,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In a four-game span, the Philadelphia 76ers star received a technical foul for shoving Donte DiVincenzo, and flagrant fouls for dragging Mitchell Robinson to the floor and swiping Brunson in the head.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Throughout Orbán’s re-election campaign, the media controlled by his governing Fidesz party depicted Magyar as a reckless enemy of peace, bent on dragging Hungary into the war in neighboring Ukraine.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Neither is known for having much of an off-the-dribble game that could hurt the plodding Porzingis or Horford.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
His jogging gait is a bit plodding.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Trailing plants like Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) and common periwinkle (Vinca minor) spill over the edges of the pot, while creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum) and bugleweed (Ajuga reptans) cover the surface with dense mats.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Clean your garden tools after working with creeping Charlie to prevent spread, Funk adds.—
Lauren David,
Martha Stewart,
18 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The car’s most eye-catching feature is arguably its tapered posterior.—
Viju Mathew,
Robb Report,
14 Apr. 2026
-
The long, tapered length adds to the edgy effect.—
Ariel Wodarcyk,
InStyle,
12 Apr. 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
-
Adobe could be crawling its way out of the software stock abyss, after a buyback and an endorsement from Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang revived confidence in the digital media provider.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Sick of crawling through rush-hour traffic along Interstate 84 in Meridian?—
Rose Evans
April 20,
Idaho Statesman,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inching. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
