INCHES Synonyms: 49 Similar and Opposite Words

inches 1 of 2

noun

plural of inch

as in height

the distance of something or someone from bottom to top made the most of her inches by standing on her tiptoes to reach the top shelf

Synonyms & Similar Words

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inches

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of inch

as in encroaches

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

as in drags

to move slowly the car inched carefully across the snow-covered causeway

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example 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 inches

Noun

Any storms that form on Saturday in Rasuwa could drop up to 2 inches (50 mm) of rain. — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026 The find from the Neolithic site Karahan Tepe measures about 28 inches tall and would have sat on a platform along the wall of a larger round building roughly 10 feet in diameter. — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 27 Aug. 2026 Rain could fall at 1 to 3 inches an hour, with totals of 1 to 2 inches or more. — Justin Lewis, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026 The robber has been described as standing between 5 feet, 5 inches and 5 feet, 6 inches tall. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 27 Aug. 2026 And in its place was the absolute pleasure of watching Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder play their characters perfectly on my favorite show, just a few inches away. — Merrill Markoe, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2026 Maui could see up to 3 inches of rain on the windward side of the island. — Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 Around two to three inches of rain were reported, according to the New York Times. — Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026 Health codes require food to be stored at least 6 inches off the floor. — Sacbee.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Verb

Bo Nix is set to make his first game appearance of the summer and Sean Payton’s team will take one more step toward the regular season, which inches ever closer. — Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 20 Aug. 2026 That stat inches closer to 100% among respondents living with a chronic condition. — Anisa Arsenault, HEALTH, 4 Aug. 2026 The rest of the film drags, the pacing falters, and the story inches toward a mediocre conclusion. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 15 June 2026 Every generation inches it forward. — Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 28 May 2026 With yet another cliffhanger in tow, Paula inches closer and closer to the truth — and certain danger — setting off a cat-and-mouse game drawing the mom further into Dennis’ criminal orbit. — Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 24 May 2026 The car inches forward but does not clear the way. — Erin Jones, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026 Following a bout of social media virality, a scout with Troop 71047 named Pim has sold over 100,000 boxes of cookies and counting, and every sale inches her closer to breaking the record for most Girl Scout Cookies ever sold. — Kate Perez, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026 Sierra Canyon will host Crespi on Saturday as the team inches closer to an undefeated Mission League campaign. — Dan Lovi, Daily News, 22 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for inches

Noun

The zoning change would be necessary to build a development of that scale because local zoning guidelines for the downtown area cap building heights at four stories.

— Alexandra Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
Now, 15 years later, Cook has catapulted the company to stratospheric heights by forging his own path.

— Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of height

Verb

The case also determined that the neighbor has the right to trim any greenery that encroaches onto their property.

— Amaia Gavica, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026
As long as nothing encroaches on their territories, these mega-caps can continue to invent and profit with their core businesses generating consistent gains.

— Jim Cramer, CNBC, 28 June 2026

Definition of encroaches

Verb

As the conflict drags on, damage to the Middle East will extend far beyond infrastructure.

— Dina Esfandiary, Foreign Affairs, 27 Aug. 2026
And while American and Israeli strikes have battered Iran for months, the conflict has also taken a toll on Pentagon resources and American lives as the war drags on.

— Steven Beynon, ABC News, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of drags

Noun

Her minimalist black sandal added a touch of elevation and formality to her shorts-and-T combo.

— Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 28 Aug. 2026
Curiosity has climbed through a vertical half-mile (1 kilometer) of rock layers so far, finding clay-rich, mudstone layers that give way at higher elevations to younger sandstones full of salty minerals.

— Ashwin R. Vasavada, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of elevation

Verb

Hairy-nosed wombat births are hard to spot, as after about a 30-day pregnancy, the joey crawls into its mother’s pouch.

— Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 16 Aug. 2026
Researchers have developed a new control framework that enables humanoid robots to perform agile movements, including army crawls, breakdancing and backflips.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of crawls

Verb

Nic Antaya / Getty Images As the calendar creeps toward September, the Detroit Red Wings are still conducting their search for their next general manager.

— Max Bultman, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
The polarizing quarterback will start Cleveland's exhibition opener at Chicago on Saturday — his first game action since 2024 — and Shedeur Sanders will play in the second half as the Browns' QB competition creeps toward a conclusion.

— ABC News, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of creeps

Verb

Even in the bathrooms, the toilet and bidet are concealed inside a kind of Travertine bench and the showerhead pokes out from a monolithic stone slab.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026
This is strong language, which pokes at our tribal memory of gasoline shortages from the 1970’s.

— George Calhoun, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

Definition of pokes

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inched

inches

inching

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Style

“Inches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inches. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of inches

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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