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
Examples 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 inch
Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 7 Jan. 2025
Middle Tennessee saw between 6-9 inches this week for comparison.
—Craig Shoup, The Tennessean, 22 Dec. 2024
John Hyatt, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
And the Bills routed the Jets, 40-14, to inch New York one game closer to a merciful end for a miserable season.
—Zak Keefer, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for inch 
Noun
Areas in Washington, D.C., received as much as 7 inches of snow, a significant accumulation for the nation's capital, according to the National Weather Service.
—Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 7 Jan. 2025
Middle Tennessee saw between 6-9 inches this week for comparison.
—Craig Shoup, The Tennessean, 22 Dec. 2024
Verb
Carvana’s stock closed down about 2% Thursday, while the major stock indices inched down by less than 0.4%.
—John Hyatt, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
And the Bills routed the Jets, 40-14, to inch New York one game closer to a merciful end for a miserable season.
—Zak Keefer, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for inch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inch
Noun
-
Pet owners must pay for most of these steps, which can be a further disincentive.Brenda Goodman, CNN, 18 Jan. 2025
-
Israel's Cabinet approved a deal early Saturday for a ceasefire in Gaza that would release dozens of hostages held there and pause the 15-month war with Hamas, bringing the sides a step closer to ending their deadliest and most destructive fighting ever.SAMY MAGDY, arkansasonline.com, 18 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Throughout the day, visitors can wander between stages with live music from Celtic rock bands, witness dance competitions, see border collie demonstrations and learn about Scottish heritage while exploring clans.Patrick Connolly, Orlando Sentinel, 17 Jan. 2025
-
But some eight minutes into the flight, SpaceX lost contact with the Starship upper stage, known as Ship.Mike Wall, Space.com, 17 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
When combined with cloud ERP, business AI can bring decision-making, process optimization, and customer experiences to new heights.Peter Pluim, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
-
The building code has gradually acknowledged its existence but still limits its height to 85 feet (about eight stories).Justin Davidson, Curbed, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Advertisement As the inferno swelled, flames encroached on some areas that were being considered for water shutoffs.Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025
-
For one, rising sea levels are now encroaching on sand and limestone underneath our feet.Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 14 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Trump is right to try to end the conflict; a war that drags on indefinitely could eventually turn Ukraine into a failed state.Charles A. Kupchan, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2025
-
Polls show approval ratings for Yoon’s ruling party have been rising as the crisis drags on.Ryan Hogg, Fortune Asia, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The 85-year-old Vitale underwent surgery in June after a biopsy of the lymph node in his neck came back cancerous, marking his fourth cancer diagnosis.Jenna West and Andrew Marchand, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
-
The victim was stabbed in the neck during a fight inside the Selwyn Ave. apartment near East Mount Eden Ave. — just a block away from Claremont Park — about 1:30 a.m., cops said.Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 9 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
With valuations rising and deal demand growing, 2025 appears set to mark a new chapter in the creator economy's evolution, characterized by more mature business models and strategic consolidation.Ian Shepherd, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
-
Drake's defamation lawsuit against UMG is the latest chapter in his escalating conflict with the label.Michael D. Carroll AND Erin Keller, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
The two girls then left Leutner alone to crawl out of the forest and find help.Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
-
If no shelter is available, crawl to an interior wall away from windows.Daniella Segura, Sacramento Bee, 10 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near inch
Cite this Entry
“Inch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inch. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share