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
In the three years since it’s been filed, the lawsuit has been inching along, with both sides trading briefs and appeals, Ron Zambrano, a lawyer for the three women, said in an interview. Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 29 June 2026 Lonnie has plenty stacked against him, not least of all his own son, who is inching closer to surpassing his status in the golf world — people are even starting to call him the Hawk, a torch that had to have been pried out of his father’s hand. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 25 June 2026 And state environmental officials had just triggered the first phase of their drought response plan, inching the state toward new water use restrictions. Drew Kann, AJC.com, 24 June 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inching
Adjective
  • The tool, developed by independent AI engineer Luke Geel, analyzes past results and players’ activity—from posture to blink rate—spotting connections that might be imperceptible to the average viewer but visible to top pros.
    Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 3 July 2026
  • 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
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
  • Keeping the encroaching natural world at bay is a struggle in neighborhoods adjacent to Los Angeles County’s wildlands.
    Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026
  • Not even underage performers are safe from the encroaching tech.
    Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • Compounding concerns, California officials say the Department of Transportation is dragging its feet.
    Lauren Morganbesser, semafor.com, 1 July 2026
  • One small habit that has helped me tremendously is dragging important emails directly into my calendar.
    Michel Koopman, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Adjective
  • Look for long tapered points where fish can move up shallow to feed with quick access to deep water.
    Kristine Fischer, Outdoor Life, 2 July 2026
  • The two precious stones sit atop a bypass-style band of yellow gold and platinum, and tapered baguette diamonds accent the centerpiece.
    Moises Mendez II, InStyle, 29 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
  • Costs begin creeping higher, margins get a little tighter and profitability comes under pressure.
    Amy Powell, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • About 1 million 16-to-24-year-olds now find themselves not in employment, education or training, with levels creeping toward highs not seen since the 2008 financial crash.
    Letters to the Editor, Washington Post, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • The Germans were crawling as far as the street, dashing across the asphalt, then leaping into the second trench.
    Vasily Grossman, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
  • Jude Cornell joined a swarm of toddlers crawling after soccer balls, tossing training cones into the air and relocating a goalie net that was proving to be very, very portable.
    ABC News, ABC News, 30 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Inching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inching. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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