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Inroad is a combination of in and road, both of which are pretty mundane, as far as words go. But the first-and-oldest-meaning of inroad hints at a meaning of road other than the "way for traveling" one. Beginning back in the days of Old English, road referred to an armed hostile incursion made on horseback. (Raid comes from this use of road and also formerly specified incursions on horseback.) Road, as well as inroad, has lost its violent connotation. While inroads are often made at the expense of someone or something, they are at times simply advances, as when an artist is said to be "making inroads into a community."
Examples of inroad in a Sentence
Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 25 Nov. 2025
By spotlighting a brand that is making ESG inroads, the goal is to provide an example and inspiration for the industry at large.
—Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 24 Nov. 2025
The Geome Xingyuan's success also highlights another trend — traditional automakers such as Geely making inroads in EVs.
—Eunice Yoon, CNBC, 24 Nov. 2025
While China’s leader also isn’t attending, COP will showcase the inroads Beijing’s clean-tech industry has made in Latin America.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 11 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inroad
Cite this Entry
“Inroad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inroad. Accessed 1 Dec. 2025.
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