1
as in crept
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in dragged
to move slowly
the weekend traffic on the road to the beach just crawled
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in lingered
to move or act slowly
the deadline is fast approaching, so this is no time to crawl
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 crawled
Modern Wall Street has killed just about everything cool that walks or crawled at one time or another.
—
Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025
The van’s driver then crawled out of his vehicle’s window, crossed over a median and was instantly struck by a car speeding in the opposite direction, which was broadcast by the news helicopter following the chase.
—Brian Niemietz, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025
Automobile traffic crawled as drivers struggled to peer through murky air.
—Robert Wyss, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2025
Despite not being in a conference, Notre Dame has crawled back into the CFP picture by winning five consecutive games after starting the season 0-2 with losses on the road to Miami and at home against Texas A&M.
—Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
One suspect crawled into an air duct.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2025
On a warm day in September, Schlink’s son crawled on the squishy, rubber surface of the large playground near their house.
—Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 15 Oct. 2025
This time, of the five live roaches, the least shy sashayed across the floor in front of the cookline and crawled under a dining area table.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 11 Oct. 2025
Bamboo Penny’s 5270 W 116th Place, Leawood A live cockroach crawled on the wall next to the rice cooker at this Leawood Thai restaurant.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 6 Oct. 2025
Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025
The van’s driver then crawled out of his vehicle’s window, crossed over a median and was instantly struck by a car speeding in the opposite direction, which was broadcast by the news helicopter following the chase.
—Brian Niemietz, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025
Automobile traffic crawled as drivers struggled to peer through murky air.
—Robert Wyss, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2025
Despite not being in a conference, Notre Dame has crawled back into the CFP picture by winning five consecutive games after starting the season 0-2 with losses on the road to Miami and at home against Texas A&M.
—Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
One suspect crawled into an air duct.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2025
On a warm day in September, Schlink’s son crawled on the squishy, rubber surface of the large playground near their house.
—Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 15 Oct. 2025
This time, of the five live roaches, the least shy sashayed across the floor in front of the cookline and crawled under a dining area table.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 11 Oct. 2025
Bamboo Penny’s 5270 W 116th Place, Leawood A live cockroach crawled on the wall next to the rice cooker at this Leawood Thai restaurant.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 6 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crawled
Verb
-
For many parts of the country, the average date of the first fall frost has passed, and the chill of autumn nights has already crept in, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.—
Stuart Dyos,
USA Today,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Pain crept into the set of his mouth.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Though some institutions have welcomed workers’ unions, others have dragged their feet.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Knocked unconscious, Will is then dragged by the Demogorgon to the lair of Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower).—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
After improvements in passenger totals in 2021, 2022, and 2023, San Jose and Oakland both began to suffer slumps in 2024 and the weakening pattern has lingered well into 2025, a review of official airport statistics shows.—
HECTOR AMEZCUA,
Sacbee.com,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Still, despite the trauma-thirsty embrace of Luke’s story from the media, the music lingered.—
Marissa R. Moss,
Rolling Stone,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The air buzzed with laughter, connection, and anticipation.—
Essence,
Essence,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Each week, social media has buzzed with his latest one-handed reception or shape-shifting juke.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The power management company slid 4% on lackluster third-quarter results .—
Michelle Fox,
CNBC,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Lucas Paqueta equalised, Sven Botman slid the ball into his own net and then Tomas Soucek gilded the scoreline at the death and, through all of it, Newcastle were powerless.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
This week’s episode of Survivor 49 once again shuffled the deck, going back to three tribes while also mixing up the contestants on each… just for funsies.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Morning sunlight poured into the front door as Kendall slumped his shoulders and shuffled into the home, several housing units across the courtyard from their own.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Republicans refused to pass a funding bill that funded the Affordable Care Act (ACA), while Obama and Democrats pushed back on proposals put forth by GOP lawmakers that would have defunded or delayed it.—
Chantelle Lee,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Russian state media has acknowledged the Belgorod was also delayed in part by the pandemic.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Messi picked up the ball from his compatriot Rodrigo De Paul in midfield and burst toward the backpedaling Nashville back line before slipping the ball outside to Luis Suárez.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
The areas facing the sun heat up fastest, and if there is a weaker area on the surface of the comet, sublimated gases under the surface can burst through — causing these sun-facing jets.—
Elizabeth Howell,
Space.com,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Crawled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crawled. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share