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
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Recent Examples of inch
Hannah Edgar, ARTnews.com, 24 Feb. 2025
The roof appears to sit slightly lower at the front than the rear but still promises a tall, spacious penthouse for campsite living that peaks at 45 inches (115 cm) high.
—New Atlas, 24 Feb. 2025
Angelique Jackson, Variety, 3 Mar. 2025
These urbanists have been inching toward the political center, seeing the logic in development and turning against some progressive icons.
—Benjamin Wallace-Wells, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inch
Noun
Its sophisticated drainage system has successfully rerouted centuries of intense rainfall—some 80 inches a year—and its buildings have withstood earthquakes despite being built on steep slopes.
—Hannah Edgar, ARTnews.com, 24 Feb. 2025
The roof appears to sit slightly lower at the front than the rear but still promises a tall, spacious penthouse for campsite living that peaks at 45 inches (115 cm) high.
—New Atlas, 24 Feb. 2025
Verb
Then, Vin Diesel stops Brody for a handshake and, as Brody inches closer to the bar at the center of the room, Jon Hamm gives him a pat on the back.
—Angelique Jackson, Variety, 3 Mar. 2025
These urbanists have been inching toward the political center, seeing the logic in development and turning against some progressive icons.
—Benjamin Wallace-Wells, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inch
Noun
-
In Meyer’s case, healing is possible, and creating a safe, stable environment is the first step.—
Ascend Agency,
New York Daily News,
7 Mar. 2025
-
Nearly all 52 rooms are located on Deadman’s Beach, just steps from the Caribbean Sea—some with private outdoor hot tubs and outdoor showers.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
During the system’s seventh test mission on Jan. 16, SpaceX similarly lost communication with the vehicle’s upper stage after about 8 minutes.—
Denise Chow,
NBC News,
7 Mar. 2025
-
The actress says both of her parents are guiding lights in her career — especially her dad, who has been a stage actor for her whole life.—
Hedy Phillips,
People.com,
6 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The stand aside, this monitor has ample tilt, height, and swivel adjustments at the ready.—
PCMAG,
PCMAG,
9 Mar. 2025
-
The structure of its web varies throughout the year, with changes in its angle, height above the ground, line density and magnetic orientation, all influenced by seasonal shifts.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes,
9 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
About 20 years ago, when the Montreal Expos moved to Washington, then-Orioles owner Peter Angelos pushed MLB to broker a deal to compensate the Baltimore club for a new team encroaching on what was Orioles territory.—
Jacob Calvin Meyer,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Mar. 2025
-
All 17 deaths in the Eaton fire took place west of Altadena’s Lake Avenue, an area that didn’t receive emergency evacuation orders until the early morning hours of Jan. 8, when smoke and flames were already encroaching on the neighborhood.—
Corinne Purtill,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
But the 2013 peace process soon collapsed as tensions reignited, dragging Turkey and the PKK back into a bloody war and ending a two-year ceasefire.—
Eyad Kourdi,
CNN,
1 Mar. 2025
-
The most illuminated of them, hatless and dragging, is followed by a marginally more active figure, the only one to acknowledge the viewer’s presence.—
Sarah C. Schaefer,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Occasionally, someone dressed it up or made out with it, and people liked to hang Mardi Gras beads around its neck, but nobody made it into a big deal.—
Zach Helfand,
The New Yorker,
10 Mar. 2025
-
The thyroid is a small gland in the neck that plays a key role in overall health.—
Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, RDN, LD,
Health,
10 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The first set of grades, issued last April, drew criticism from Jewish campus groups, including chapters of Hillel and Chabad, who argued that the grades did not reflect a complex reality.—
Andrew Lapin,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Mar. 2025
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Jisoo is the latest member of Blackpink to embark on an exciting solo chapter.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
In 1504, Christopher Columbus, on his fourth trans-Atlantic voyage, was stranded on the shores of Jamaica, with his ships crawling with marine worms and his crew hungry.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
10 Mar. 2025
-
If no shelter is available, crawl to an interior wall away from windows.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacramento Bee,
9 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inch. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
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