as in bowing
bending downward or forward
the inclining branches of the evergreens seemed almost ready to break under the weight of the heavy snow
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in tilting
to set or cause to be at an angle
carefully inclined the ladder against the house
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in leaning
to show a liking or proneness (for something)
a good restaurant for diners who incline to spicy food
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inclining
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2025
Outside a San Diego immigration court, a man, his mother, and his two daughters stand in a tight circle, inclining their heads toward a priest.
—Sophie Hills, Christian Science Monitor, 30 Aug. 2025
Verb
The trim and inclining experiment is to confirm the centre of gravity of the submarine and is measured by naval architects in both surfaced and submerged conditions.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2025
Outside a San Diego immigration court, a man, his mother, and his two daughters stand in a tight circle, inclining their heads toward a priest.
—Sophie Hills, Christian Science Monitor, 30 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inclining
Adjective
-
James O’Donoghue, a planetary scientist with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, likened our planet’s tilting phenomenon to a nodding head.—
Aylin Woodward,
WSJ,
21 Dec. 2021
Verb
-
Just like its predecessor, the prequel series is dedicated to an violent, world-tilting war for the Iron Throne.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
15 June 2026
-
Cook, stirring and tilting the skillet until the eggs start to thicken and turn opaque, 1 to 2 minutes.—
Kate Williams,
AJC.com,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
These automation platforms are heavily leaning into AI to allow these mundane and repetitive transactions flow through your accounting system with minimal or no human involvement, freeing up your accounting staff to perform other functions.—
Gene Marks,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
-
Early results showed Swiss voters were leaning against it.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
14 June 2026
Adjective
-
With bowed heads, friends and classmates wrapped their arms around each other.—
Keri Heath,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Instead of your standard dress shoes, Styles finished the look with a perfect pair of minty-green ballet flats with bowed laces.—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Native to eastern North America, wild mountain laurel plants grow en masse along woodland margins, rivers and streambanks, and sloping hillsides.—
Lauren Landers,
The Spruce,
13 June 2026
-
In early spring, the meadow — like the sloping rock garden fronting the house — fills with California poppies.—
Nicole Sours Larson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
Konopasek volunteers at Poway Gardens every Friday for two to three hours tending to the rows of tomato plants.—
Amy Stark Shireman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 June 2026
-
Along with a cadre of friends and aides, Emanuel cycled past homes where residents were tending to their yards or celebrating a recent graduation on their front patio.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 June 2026
Adjective
-
And every day, across from them, outside the clinic, about to enter or just leaving, there were women hugging each other and weeping.—
David Mamet,
National Review,
11 Aug. 2022
-
The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.—
Helen Shaw,
Vulture,
8 Dec. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Inclining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inclining. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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