the creeps

plural noun

informal
: an uncomfortable feeling of nervousness or fear
I get the creeps every time he walks by.
I hate snakes. They give me the creeps.

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web The subject of their dispute: Edgar Allan Poe, a horror writer whose short stories were giving Americans the creeps from coast to coast. Mary Ann Gwinn, Los Angeles Times, 30 Nov. 2022 Basements give her the creeps; plus, a property manager told her the floor had been torn up. jsonline.com, 16 Nov. 2022 Give neighbors the creeps with this feline trio, which stay put with heavy-duty metal stakes. Larry Stansbury, Good Housekeeping, 28 Sep. 2022 Despite giving some individuals the creeps, arachnids are pest control professionals. Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Apr. 2022 The My Buddy theme song, inescapable then, will still give parents (or grandparents) the creeps. John Anderson, WSJ, 26 Oct. 2021 For money, or to entrap all the creeps who’d dare to tune in? Peter Debruge, Variety, 23 Feb. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'the creeps.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Dictionary Entries Near the creeps

Cite this Entry

“The creeps.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20creeps. Accessed 1 Jun. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!