1
as in step
a very small distance or degree
give them an inch, and they'll take a mile
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
1
as in to encroach
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.
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Recent Examples of inch
Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 1 June 2025
The Vario-Elmar is a little smaller (6.8 by 3.3 inches) and lighter at 2.2 pounds.
—PC Magazine, 31 May 2025
Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 10 June 2025
There’s enough space on the Radio City stage for there to be dozens of co-producers onstage again, instead of in the lobby like last year
This Oprah bit is now covering for the giant blob of financiers slowly inching offstage.
—Vulture Editors, Vulture, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for inch
Noun
Ouellette won the 1,600 title (Martin was second) and another senior Oliver Guzy won the long jump (22 feet, 3 ¼ inches) was second in the 300 hurdles.
—Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 1 June 2025
The Vario-Elmar is a little smaller (6.8 by 3.3 inches) and lighter at 2.2 pounds.
—PC Magazine, 31 May 2025
Verb
As the bill inches closer to becoming law, the burden of keeping the teams in Missouri will likely shift to local officials in both Jackson and Clay counties.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 10 June 2025
There’s enough space on the Radio City stage for there to be dozens of co-producers onstage again, instead of in the lobby like last year
This Oprah bit is now covering for the giant blob of financiers slowly inching offstage.
—Vulture Editors, Vulture, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for inch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inch
Noun
-
In an exclusive clip from the film (below), the jury tries to retrace Sophie’s steps, and imagine her state of mind, on the night she was murdered.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
10 June 2025
-
Top aides found refuge at friendly think tanks to plot the next steps.—
Eric Cortellessa,
Time,
10 June 2025
Noun
-
Shohei Ohtani is there as well, in the late stages of Tommy John surgery rehab that could be completed just after the All Star break.—
Tony Blengino,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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Instead, Lloyd employed a bare stage and an ensemble of actors dressed all in black.—
Jenelle Riley,
Variety,
9 June 2025
Noun
-
For the past four years, a fleet of drone vessels has purposefully steered into the heart of hurricanes to gather information on a storm’s wind speeds, wave heights and, critically, the complex transfer of heat and moisture between the ocean and the air right above it.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
13 June 2025
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The attack comes as tensions have reached new heights over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program.—
Jon Gambrell,
Christian Science Monitor,
13 June 2025
Verb
-
Apple once owned the premium device space, but competitors are now encroaching on its turf.—
Jackie Snow,
Quartz,
7 June 2025
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At this year’s Cannes Film Festival, the industry was awash with buyers, sellers and festival heads chattering about how to come to grips with this new phase of technology that is increasingly encroaching on the traditional space.—
Diana Lodderhose,
Deadline,
4 June 2025
Verb
-
But by the late 1970s, as negotiations over a treaty dragged on, Congress grew receptive to industry lobbyists seeking legislation that would protect their investments in mining sites beyond U.S. maritime jurisdiction.—
Time,
Time,
17 June 2025
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What were the final few days like? Exhausting and dragging on.—
Kate Aurthur,
Variety,
17 June 2025
Noun
-
During an interview with police, the witnesses showed officers a video in which the child’s babysitter, identified as Rogers, allegedly grabbed the child by his neck/shoulder, according to court documents.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
12 June 2025
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However, the study did not show a substantial change in whole-body or femoral neck bone density.3 5.—
Jennifer Steinhoff,
Verywell Health,
12 June 2025
Noun
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Women now may face lengthy prison sentences for decades-old chapters of their pasts.—
Ryan Mac Natasha Singer Alyce McFadden Jiawei Wang,
New York Times,
8 June 2025
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But at least Trump’s executive order is closing the chapter on that era.—
Stacy Washington,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 June 2025
Verb
-
The curious little creatures interact with you (sometimes crawling on your body) while practicing your pose, adding an extra stress-reducing and unforgettable element to your usual yoga routine.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
13 June 2025
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Recent videos from Boston Dynamics shows the humanoid Atlas bot crawling, tumbling and even break dancing.—
Christopher Helman,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inch. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.
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