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
Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 2 June 2026
Every stretch had brought its own challenges, but these past few days had been especially brutal, the crewmembers fording streams, inching through hub-deep mud, sleeping in the car, dodging hail under rubber blankets, catching a night’s rest at a farmhouse as violent rain pounded the roof.
—Eric Moskowitz, The Atlantic, 31 May 2026
The use of electronic cigarettes has been inching up among adults, but has held about steady in 2025, at about 7%.
—Mike Stobbe, Fortune, 29 May 2026
But in recent years, the district has pushed back that process, inching renewals closer to the summer.
—Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
Gene therapy delivered before birth may finally be inching toward reality, as UCSF researchers have submitted an FDA application to target a devastating neurodegenerative disorder that kills many children before age 3.
—Meghana Keshavan, STAT, 21 May 2026
Visa, Mastercard, and Citi are inching toward genuinely open positions in Chinese payments and banking.
—Drew Bernstein, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
So yes, the Cavaliers are inching closer to shedding those mentally and physically soft labels.
—Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 14 May 2026
Those two strong responders saw their HIV drop to undetectable levels, inching up only occasionally when the CAR-T cells presumably got to work again.
—ABC News, 12 May 2026
Verb
Aventura had one of the weaker showings in the June 1 report, with values of existing property up less than 1% in value and new construction only inching along.
—Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 2 June 2026
Every stretch had brought its own challenges, but these past few days had been especially brutal, the crewmembers fording streams, inching through hub-deep mud, sleeping in the car, dodging hail under rubber blankets, catching a night’s rest at a farmhouse as violent rain pounded the roof.
—Eric Moskowitz, The Atlantic, 31 May 2026
The use of electronic cigarettes has been inching up among adults, but has held about steady in 2025, at about 7%.
—Mike Stobbe, Fortune, 29 May 2026
But in recent years, the district has pushed back that process, inching renewals closer to the summer.
—Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
Gene therapy delivered before birth may finally be inching toward reality, as UCSF researchers have submitted an FDA application to target a devastating neurodegenerative disorder that kills many children before age 3.
—Meghana Keshavan, STAT, 21 May 2026
Visa, Mastercard, and Citi are inching toward genuinely open positions in Chinese payments and banking.
—Drew Bernstein, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
So yes, the Cavaliers are inching closer to shedding those mentally and physically soft labels.
—Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 14 May 2026
Those two strong responders saw their HIV drop to undetectable levels, inching up only occasionally when the CAR-T cells presumably got to work again.
—ABC News, 12 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inching
Adjective
-
All videos created with Omni will include Google's imperceptible digital watermark, SynthID, but Google is also adding content credentials verification to the Gemini app.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 May 2026
-
Of course, part of the challenge was the outward invisibility of all the changes—to anyone who had not been at sea, my new life was imperceptible.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Immersive experiences like Meow Wolf, Activate Games, or the Sphere in Las Vegas are also encroaching, offering visitors something truly novel (no offense to funnel cakes).—
HubSpot,
HubSpot,
1 June 2026
-
Jurado noted that tongues of salt water are already encroaching into some of the freshwater areas of South Florida.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
Instead of running quietly in the background, sleep evangelists are shouting about its importance from the rooftops, and neuroscientists are dragging it out into the light of day on TED Talk stages for further dissection.—
Sharon Brandwein,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
-
Nasdaq shares tumbled more than 5% in the session, dragging the stock into the red week to date.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
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
Verb
-
Chartreuse creeping Jenny adds even more contrast.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
1 June 2026
-
Yes, the guys, especially the dentist (ick) and the icky bride-shopping commanders are creeping and disturbing.—
Rachel Elspeth Gross,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
Many newer designs rely on strategic ruching, molded cups, or tapered padding rather than stiff foam inserts that feel bulky and dig in.—
Malia Griggs,
Glamour,
28 May 2026
-
Boglioli Brown Tinto Terra Linen K-Suit Boglioli’s linen K-Suit consists of its trademark K-Jacket, which has been left unlined and unconstructed for maximum ease, and a pair of single-pleated trousers in a tapered cut.—
Eric Twardzik,
Robb Report,
25 May 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 Thursday night group was seen leaving about three hours afterward, according to the NYPD, while the second odd circumstance ended after individuals were seen crawling out and leaving in a vehicle more than two and a half hours after.—
Amethyst Martinez,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
-
Toddlers and babies spend their days at floor level, crawling through dust, putting hands and objects in their mouths, and breathing air closer to the ground than anyone else.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inching. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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