crawl 1 of 2

1
as in to creep
to move slowly with the body close to the ground the time we had to crawl through a narrow passageway from one cave to another

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2
3
4
as in to burst
to be copiously supplied something must be up, as city hall is crawling with reporters

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

crawl

2 of 2

noun

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of crawl
Verb
In the show, Abby does use a golf club to beat Joel to the brink of death, and the squelching of her fists against his face is skin crawling. Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 5 May 2025 Between 3:17 and 5:17 a.m., officers watched Vong call for help, crawl around the cell floor injured, unable to stand and kicking and flinching in pain, the lawsuit said. Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 5 May 2025
Noun
Where other trees would race toward the canopy, bristlecones stall their growth to a crawl. Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025 Cutting rates fast and sharply could reignite inflation just as Trump’s tariffs slow economic growth to a crawl — the Fed’s GDPNow tool currently predicts the economy went into reverse and contracted last quarter. Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for crawl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crawl
Verb
  • However, a new poll shows his approval rating among this demographic may be creeping up again.
    Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025
  • Listen to this article A 32-year-old woman got the scare of her life when a stranger crept up behind her and tried to shoot her in the back of the head in a random execution attempt on a Bronx street, video obtained by the Daily News shows.
    Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • Andre needs some help The Brazil international midfielder dragged himself from the field near the end on Saturday, with Pereira later allaying any fears about an injury.
    Steve Madeley, New York Times, 12 May 2025
  • Gunther dragged Cole into the ring and pushed him around and out of the ring.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2025
Verb
  • Early morning flights are typically the least likely to be canceled or delayed, and taking nonstop flights whenever possible reduces your chances of an issue during your journey.
    Zach Wichter, USA Today, 15 May 2025
  • The vote for the student zoning was delayed after many parents and community members objected to a plan that would move around 100 elementary students at Marie G. Davis School in southwest Charlotte to the already overcrowded Dilworth Elementary for the 2025-26 school year.
    Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • Sleight of Hand is a powerful, intense rye whiskey bursting with bold flavors reflecting Texas whiskey's power.
    Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
  • Summer isn’t officially here yet, but Amazon is already bursting with airy dresses for under $50.
    Emily Weaver, People.com, 9 May 2025
Noun
  • Officers then turned her over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents for a deportation hearing, although police later dropped the traffic charges against her, according to local media reports.
    Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 15 May 2025
  • Last year, the FAA shifted oversight of Newark’s airspace to Philadelphia in an effort to ease staffing shortages and manage heavy air traffic in the New York region.
    Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • Fallen power lines snaked across the road and through the ditch.
    Miceala Morano, Arkansas Online, 20 May 2025
  • In Castelvetro that night, the lines for the bars snaked through the throng of dancers in the main square.
    Simon Willis, Travel + Leisure, 10 May 2025
Verb
  • During that same April 5 episode, Weekend Update’s Colin Jost poked fun at the singer in a bit about the economy.
    Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 12 May 2025
  • The contest did not last long as Edwards poked Muhammad in the eye 18 seconds into the second round.
    Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
Verb
  • The finish is medium-long and sweet, with lingering baking spice and a touch of aged oak.
    Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
  • After so much anticipation, some observers were disappointed by the lingering uncertainty over the exact whereabouts of the spacecraft’s grave.
    Marcia Dunn, Chicago Tribune, 10 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Crawl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crawl. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

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