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
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Recent Examples of inch
Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2025
The most snow Chicago has ever received in one season was 89.7 inches during 1978-79.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025
Morgan Korn, ABC News, 19 Apr. 2025
In midtown and below, congestion pricing is helping to thin traffic and smooth the way for the buses that, in the rest of the city, still inch agonizingly along.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inch
Noun
The conical to pyramidal panicles of creamy white flowers measure 6 to 8 inches long.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2025
The most snow Chicago has ever received in one season was 89.7 inches during 1978-79.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
Consumers went out in force last month to scoop up available cars, trucks and SUVs before prices inched higher, helping the industry report record sales.
—Morgan Korn, ABC News, 19 Apr. 2025
In midtown and below, congestion pricing is helping to thin traffic and smooth the way for the buses that, in the rest of the city, still inch agonizingly along.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inch
Noun
-
The first step is instituting a Pan-African Investment Protocol—a legal framework unifying the continent's 54 disparate states to cut red tape, guarantee investor protections, and enforce agreements continent-wide.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
-
Ball season returns with its glittering whirl of tiaras, tuxedos, and traditional steps rehearsed across generations.—
Lilah Ramzi,
Vogue,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
This practice can open up the late larval stage or pupae to predators or weather to kill them.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
23 Apr. 2025
-
Matheus Nunes’ strike was the eighth occasion that Emery’s team have let one in at that do-or-die stage of a contest.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
To see the ceremony from this height was to see how little the Vatican changes.—
Paul Elie,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2025
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Fit is essential, so tailor your dress to your heel height to ensure a polished look.—
Nneya Richards,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Rising sea levels not only push back its shorelines, but the encroaching salt water also erodes the country’s limited farmland.—
Kathleen Magramo,
CNN Money,
17 Apr. 2025
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Democrats have repeatedly warned against Republican budget proposals encroaching on Medicaid.—
Arick Wierson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The longer the trade war drags on, the more likely Washington and Beijing will find other ways to retaliate beyond economics.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
-
Paleontologists used to wonder if some marine reptiles did the same, awkwardly dragging themselves onto beaches to lay eggs rather than birthing their young at sea like whales do.—
Riley Black,
Smithsonian Magazine,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
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But their magnum opus was 1978’s Dub Housing, where Thomas shows off his collection of animal noises, grunts, yelps, and screeches, up to his neck in industrial synth-and-guitar factory noise.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
25 Apr. 2025
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The defense pointed to photos that showed Molly did have that red mark on her neck.—
Maureen Maher,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
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So while the big book on Trumpism is now being written day-by-day, the good news is that the final chapter of a New Patriotism hasn’t yet been drafted.—
Mark Green,
New York Daily News,
20 Apr. 2025
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Entire chapters of the gospels are devoted to Jesus’s sermons, parables, and private conversations with His disciples.—
Dominic Pino,
National Review,
20 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Freya crawled on top of her, interrupting the seizure.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
27 Apr. 2025
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Continue to update your site with new, high-quality blogs, and search engines will more frequently crawl your site.—
Tonia Ryan,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inch. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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