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Inroad is a combination of in and road, both of which are pretty mundane, as far as words go. But the first-and-oldest-meaning of inroad hints at a meaning of road other than the "way for traveling" one. Beginning back in the days of Old English, road referred to an armed hostile incursion made on horseback. (Raid comes from this use of road and also formerly specified incursions on horseback.) Road, as well as inroad, has lost its violent connotation. While inroads are often made at the expense of someone or something, they are at times simply advances, as when an artist is said to be "making inroads into a community."
Examples of inroad in a Sentence
Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
But that fell apart when Trump and the GOP began making inroads with the Democrats’ traditional working class base.
—Jonathan J. Cooper and Kevin S. Vineys, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2025
The move is a strong signal to Meta employees that the company's push to make inroads with the incoming Trump administration isn't just posturing, but an ethos shift that will impact its business practices.
—Emily Peck, Axios, 15 Jan. 2025
Lewis-Skelly was not far behind, which is remarkable for a youngster who is only making inroads into the first team this season.
—Amy Lawrence, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for inroad 
Dictionary Entries Near inroad
Cite this Entry
“Inroad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inroad. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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