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
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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
Verb
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Though the Kremlin-friendly Orban had held power for the past 16 years, partly by tilting the electoral system in his favor, his far-right Fidesz party lost to the center-right Tisza party of anti-corruption campaigner Peter Magyar.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Pour a heaping 1/3 cup batter into the pan, tilting to coat evenly.—
Kelly McCarthy,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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While winemakers are leaning into narratives and experiences to attract this sizeable demographic, real estate developers are using wine to court high-income members of the generation.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
19 Apr. 2026
-
The Coastal Commission decision gave political cover to lawmakers in liberal-leaning communities to approve the bill that will speed up home construction by exempting most projects from deep environmental review.—
Andre Mouchard,
Oc Register,
19 Apr. 2026
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
-
The height comes from a stance atop 20-inch wheels, and the vehicle’s sloping hood descends low, like a brooding brow.—
John Scott Lewinski,
Robb Report,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Tenkan-sen is above the Kijun-sen, with both lines sloping upward.—
Karl Montevirgen,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Founded by a Christian abolitionist in 1855, Berea charges no tuition, and every student works a minimum of ten hours per week on campus, doing jobs such as tending the school’s farm, repairing bicycles at the bike shop, or making brooms in the college’s historic craft workshop.—
Emma Green,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
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Outfielder Alex Verdugo, who signed a minor league deal with the Padres late in spring training, is tending to a sore throwing shoulder at the Padres spring training complex in Peoria, Ariz.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Apr. 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
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 22 Apr. 2026.
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