Did you know?
The larva of any member of a large, widespread group of moths is called an inchworm. Also called loopers, inchworms move in a characteristic “inching” or “looping” gait by extending the front part of the body and bringing the rear up to meet it. Resembling twigs or leaf stems, they feed on foliage and can seriously damage or even destroy trees.
Examples of inchworm in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Focus on moving your joints through their full range of motion, says Delgado-Lugo, who suggests doing leg swings, hip circles, butt kicks, arm swings, arm circles, inchworms, and bodyweight squats.
—
Jenny McCoy, SELF, 21 July 2025
The sight of the Kelly-green jerseys, against the sickly inchworm green of Veterans Stadium’s diabolical artificial turf, got its talons in me.
—Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
To become an inchworm.
—Country Living, 31 Mar. 2023
Another unremarkable caterpillar—a tiny brown inchworm—represented not just a new species but possibly a new genus.
—Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for inchworm
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.
Jenny McCoy, SELF, 21 July 2025
The sight of the Kelly-green jerseys, against the sickly inchworm green of Veterans Stadium’s diabolical artificial turf, got its talons in me.
—Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
To become an inchworm.
—Country Living, 31 Mar. 2023
Another unremarkable caterpillar—a tiny brown inchworm—represented not just a new species but possibly a new genus.
—Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for inchworm
Cite this Entry
“Inchworm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inchworm. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
inchworm
noun
inch·worm
ˈinch-ˌwərm 
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share