creepy

adjective

ˈkrē-pē 

creepier; creepiest

1

: producing a nervous shivery apprehension

a creepy horror story

also : eerie

2

: of, relating to, or being a creep : annoyingly unpleasant

a creepy old man

creepily

ˈkrē-pə-lē 

adverb

creepiness

ˈkrē-pē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of creepy

• eerie
• haunting

Examples of creepy in a Sentence

There's something creepy about that guy.

a fascinating but creepy stage show by an offbeat magician

Recent Examples on the Web

Their hope is to eliminate AI’s creepy uncanny valley, an effect that has long made the technology feel more like sci-fi novelty than an instrument that could serve a practical function in people’s everyday lives. —Jerel Ezell, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025

Once night falls, creepy disturbances echo through the shabby apartment, bringing to light the group's deepest fears, from aging to betrayal. —Kelsie Gibson, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025

Play-Doh Creepies Despite the name, there’s nothing particularly creepy about Play-Doh Creepies. —Keith Phipps, Vulture, 27 Nov. 2025

Most people think of metamorphosis as related to creepy crawly things very much unlike us humans, to slippery and slimy creatures far removed from our mortal concerns. —Literary Hub, 24 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see creep entry 1

First Known Use

1836, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing creepy

• creepy crawler
• creepy-crawly

Rhymes for creepy

• sleepy
• praecipe
• principe

Kids Definition

creepy

adjective

ˈkrē-pē 

creepier; creepiest

: having or producing a sensation as of insects creeping on the skin

especially : eerie

creepily

-pə-lē 

adverb

creepiness noun