as in leisurely
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed
at this creeping pace of progress we'll never have the float ready for the parade
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in encroaching
to advance gradually beyond the usual or desirable limits
water crept slowly over the top of the tub and onto the floor
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in lingering
to move or act slowly
that Friday afternoon we were just creeping, waiting for the bell to sound so that we could start the long weekend
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in crawling
to move slowly with the body close to the ground
the kitten crept silently across the floor before suddenly pouncing on the mouse
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in dragging
to move slowly
the class hour seems to creep by
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of creeping
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
The overall effect is one of decadence laced with a creeping sense of horror.
—
Charlie Jane Anders,
Washington Post,
7 Feb. 2023
As a child, she was plagued by anxiety and the creeping sense that adults, especially her mother, were keeping secrets from the kids.
—
Lovia Gyarkye,
The Hollywood Reporter,
21 Jan. 2023
Then comes the creeping sense that their conversation is screwy.
—
Amy Nicholson,
Variety,
11 Sep. 2022
For some, once the initial shock wore off, a creeping sense of inevitability set in.
—
Ruth Madievsky,
The Atlantic,
18 July 2022
This growing entanglement of the corporate and social, this creeping sense of being tracked by invisible eyes, demands an increasing sophistication about what is said and where.
—
Kara Devlin,
Longreads,
20 May 2022
But beneath the know-it-all tweets, there is a creeping sense that the psychological distance between the masses of 401(k) investors and the billionaire marks may not be that far.
—
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2021
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
22 June 2026
Humidity starts creeping back up on Thursday.
—
Cutter Martin,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
Catastrophe looms in Terrestrials' near-menacing tone, full of ominous synth pulses and creeping grooves.
—
Cassidy Sollazzo,
Pitchfork,
19 June 2026
Whatever hardships Americans may have endured—including higher gas prices and creeping inflation—far greater ones have been felt elsewhere.
—
Ishaan Tharoor,
New Yorker,
18 June 2026
Insomnia, a general malaise that arrived a little earlier each winter, blood pressure creeping upward, gluey cognition, chi clogged as ketchup.
—
Literary Hub,
17 June 2026
Unlike quick-strike hurricanes and floods, droughts are silent, creeping economic predators that can persist for years and leave lasting scars on entire countries and regions.
—
Bruce Blythe,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
17 June 2026
But the sheer brutality and creeping terror of the simplistic opening scene makes the rest of the film — with its gratuitous set pieces and CGI gore — seem much more inelegant.
—
Brianna Zigler,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 June 2026
This is particularly true for people with mild hypertension or those whose blood pressure has just started creeping into the elevated range.
—
Maggie O'Neill,
Verywell Health,
12 June 2026
Adjective
The warmth of the film—shot on location in Positano, Italy—only adds to its creeping, sexy menace.
—
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
The overall effect is one of decadence laced with a creeping sense of horror.
—
Charlie Jane Anders,
Washington Post,
7 Feb. 2023
As a child, she was plagued by anxiety and the creeping sense that adults, especially her mother, were keeping secrets from the kids.
—
Lovia Gyarkye,
The Hollywood Reporter,
21 Jan. 2023
Then comes the creeping sense that their conversation is screwy.
—
Amy Nicholson,
Variety,
11 Sep. 2022
For some, once the initial shock wore off, a creeping sense of inevitability set in.
—
Ruth Madievsky,
The Atlantic,
18 July 2022
This growing entanglement of the corporate and social, this creeping sense of being tracked by invisible eyes, demands an increasing sophistication about what is said and where.
—
Kara Devlin,
Longreads,
20 May 2022
But beneath the know-it-all tweets, there is a creeping sense that the psychological distance between the masses of 401(k) investors and the billionaire marks may not be that far.
—
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2021
Verb
Best Prime Day Matching Sets for Summer Summer temperatures are already creeping in, serving as a friendly reminder that pants aren’t always a fit for June.
—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
22 June 2026
Humidity starts creeping back up on Thursday.
—
Cutter Martin,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
Catastrophe looms in Terrestrials' near-menacing tone, full of ominous synth pulses and creeping grooves.
—
Cassidy Sollazzo,
Pitchfork,
19 June 2026
Whatever hardships Americans may have endured—including higher gas prices and creeping inflation—far greater ones have been felt elsewhere.
—
Ishaan Tharoor,
New Yorker,
18 June 2026
Insomnia, a general malaise that arrived a little earlier each winter, blood pressure creeping upward, gluey cognition, chi clogged as ketchup.
—
Literary Hub,
17 June 2026
Unlike quick-strike hurricanes and floods, droughts are silent, creeping economic predators that can persist for years and leave lasting scars on entire countries and regions.
—
Bruce Blythe,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
17 June 2026
But the sheer brutality and creeping terror of the simplistic opening scene makes the rest of the film — with its gratuitous set pieces and CGI gore — seem much more inelegant.
—
Brianna Zigler,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 June 2026
This is particularly true for people with mild hypertension or those whose blood pressure has just started creeping into the elevated range.
—
Maggie O'Neill,
Verywell Health,
12 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for creeping
Adjective
-
Streaming shows — with their more leisurely pace and longer arcs — have simply been able to come by and iterate.
-
Each suite has a double whirlpool tub, fireplace, refrigerator, private bathroom, and outdoor terrace for leisurely romantic homemade breakfasts that get delivered to your room.
Verb
-
Not even underage performers are safe from the encroaching tech.
-
The beach is regularly groomed, cleaned, and kept clear of encroaching vegetation, resulting in a pristine white-sand beach that’s unmatched anywhere else in the state.
Verb
-
But for a growing number of older people, those retirement years are arriving with lingering debt problems attached.
-
Irving remains on the roster amid lingering questions about his future after missing all of last season.
Verb
-
Add a Physical Barrier Since ticks prefer to hide in grass and other plants and brush, adding a non-plant barrier like wood chips or gravel can stop ticks from ever crawling into your yard.
-
The video shows an officer tumbling on the ground, crawling in front of a parked car for cover and ultimately becoming fully prone.
Verb
-
Yet the latest round of fighting has underscored the group’s resilience, dragging Lebanon into a regional war and drawing the Israeli military back to a familiar southern Lebanon terrain.
-
According to the criminal complaint, the boy told police Diggs began choking him before dragging him into the nearby alley.
Adjective
-
What to expect over the weekend Though Friday was expected to be the slowest day of the competition, the atmosphere at Cal Expo was anything but dull.
-
Some residents are calling for civilian volunteers to help clear debris, frustrated by the slow pace of the rescue operations.
Verb
-
The company is a major investor in OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, and a report in The New York Times suggested OpenAI is considering delaying an initial public offering of its stock to next year from the second half of this year.
-
The company is a major investor in OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, and a report in The New York Times suggested OpenAI is considering delaying an initial public offering of its stock to next year from the second half of this year.
Verb
-
Timberwolves general manager Matt Lloyd said Minnesota was considering selecting Duke wing Isaiah Evans with the 28th pick in this week’s NBA Draft, prior to the Wolves sliding back five selections due to the Julius Randle trade.
-
Tire tread depth - Checking your tire tread before hitting the road is important, as low or no tread can lead to sliding.
Cite this Entry
“Creeping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/creeping. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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