inching 1 of 2

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

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
Argentina and Spain are riding high after dominant World Cup performances, inching them closer to the tournament’s knockout stage. Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 22 June 2026 Not cheap, but a relative steal when the average facelift is inching into the six figures. Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 19 June 2026 And slowly, her credit is inching its way back up. Anna Schecter, CBS News, 17 June 2026 Slammiversary card builds out Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA)’s Slammiversary is inching closer. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 15 June 2026 An ambulance sounding its siren and inching its way around a crowded corner resulted in joyous cheers. Rustin Dodd, New York Times, 14 June 2026 And according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters Friday, the two sides are inching closer to a deal that would require Iran to turn its enriched uranium over to the US. Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 13 June 2026 Costs are inching down as tomatoes from California and other parts of the US reach local markets. Bloomberg, Mercury News, 12 June 2026 While the latter project captures a moment of geopolitical paranoia, the new film finds the planet inching toward the brink of destruction without any outside help. Jesse Hassenger, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inching
Adjective
  • At first, the change is imperceptible but Nick notices that his sleepy village seems more vibrant, more populated with people.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
  • My dream foundation is one that conceals blemishes but is so imperceptible that people will ask me about my skin care routine.
    Kaelin Dodge, InStyle, 16 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
  • Not even underage performers are safe from the encroaching tech.
    Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 25 June 2026
  • The beach is regularly groomed, cleaned, and kept clear of encroaching vegetation, resulting in a pristine white-sand beach that’s unmatched anywhere else in the state.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • Yet the latest round of fighting has underscored the group’s resilience, dragging Lebanon into a regional war and drawing the Israeli military back to a familiar southern Lebanon terrain.
    Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 23 June 2026
  • According to the criminal complaint, the boy told police Diggs began choking him before dragging him into the nearby alley.
    Jessica Riley, CBS News, 23 June 2026
Adjective
  • Its tapered base fits most cupholders, and the insulated design does a great job keeping drinks cold well past the first sip.
    Olivia Tarantino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 June 2026
  • Christian Louboutin’s Miss Z pumps covered the foot in mirror-bright Vintage Rose laminated calf leather, narrowing into a tapered point above a 100mm stiletto and the house’s red sole.
    Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 22 June 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
  • Best Prime Day Matching Sets for Summer Summer temperatures are already creeping in, serving as a friendly reminder that pants aren’t always a fit for June.
    Annie Blackman, InStyle, 22 June 2026
  • Humidity starts creeping back up on Thursday.
    Cutter Martin, CBS News, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • Add a Physical Barrier Since ticks prefer to hide in grass and other plants and brush, adding a non-plant barrier like wood chips or gravel can stop ticks from ever crawling into your yard.
    Heather Bien, The Spruce, 23 June 2026
  • The video shows an officer tumbling on the ground, crawling in front of a parked car for cover and ultimately becoming fully prone.
    Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 22 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Inching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inching. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.

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