INCLINING Synonyms: 69 Similar and Opposite Words

inclining 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of inclining

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

inclining

2 of 2

verb

present participle of incline

as in tilting

to set or cause to be at an angle carefully inclined the ladder against the house

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in leaning

to show a liking or proneness (for something) a good restaurant for diners who incline to spicy food

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 inclining

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

Definition of nodding

Verb

The jacarandas were in full effusion, stately and fragrant, tilting over the streets and scattering petals on the sidewalks.

— Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026
What history shows is that a debt stock that keeps tilting toward shorter maturities is usually a sign that borrowing costs have begun to dictate policy.

— James Broughel, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of tilting

Verb

Alonso is leaning into Chelsea’s strength — the transitional attacking power of his front three — and working on protecting the weakness, giving up too much space for his team to defend.

— Jon Mackenzie, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Seen in profile or three-quarters from behind, the artist is seated, leaning toward the sheet.

— Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of leaning

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

Definition of weeping

Verb

The resulting low-slung structure is clad in understated materials, with a sloping bronze-colored roof, stone chimney, expansive glazing, and teak siding.

— David Foxley, Architectural Digest, 27 Aug. 2026
The Weekly Pattern Turning to the weekly chart, RRC has been trading in an upward-sloping channel going back to late 2022.

— Frank Cappelleri, CNBC, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of sloping

Verb

Best Amazon End-of-Season Gardening and Lawn Deals Your days tending to the garden may be coming to an end, but there’s no better time to re-up on green-thumb essentials than now.

— Maria Conti, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2026
By how his wife took charge of his care, while tending to their two small children, right to the end.

— Michael Collins, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026