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
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of crawled
One live roach crawled on the floor near the kitchen door.
—
David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Roaring out of the gates in Set 2, the Raiders mounted a commanding 10-2 lead, but the Storm went blow for blow with the Raiders and crawled back into the set.
—Andrew Cornelius, Twin Cities, 6 Nov. 2025
On impulse, Addy crawled underneath.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
Meteorologists have warned of prolonged impacts due to the storm’s extremely slow movement, as Melissa crawled west-northwest at just 1 mph, giving it time to intensify over warm sea waters.
—Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
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
One suspect crawled into an air duct.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2025
David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Roaring out of the gates in Set 2, the Raiders mounted a commanding 10-2 lead, but the Storm went blow for blow with the Raiders and crawled back into the set.
—Andrew Cornelius, Twin Cities, 6 Nov. 2025
On impulse, Addy crawled underneath.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
Meteorologists have warned of prolonged impacts due to the storm’s extremely slow movement, as Melissa crawled west-northwest at just 1 mph, giving it time to intensify over warm sea waters.
—Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
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
One suspect crawled into an air duct.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 17 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
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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
-
Sephora‘s Dubai Mall flagship has long been buzzed about by brands as being the productive location in the world, underscoring the region’s exceptional consumer appetite for premium beauty products.—
Ritu Upadhyay,
Footwear News,
7 Nov. 2025
-
How Coffee Keeps You Alert Your morning cup of coffee can leave you feeling pretty buzzed.—
Maggie O'Neill,
Verywell Health,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Fleury was shoved to the ice by Golden Knights winger Keegan Kolesar after sending a breakout pass and slid backward into the end boards.—
Jesse Granger,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes have been romantically linked since 2022, when the country singer slid into his DMs.—
Emily Kelleher,
InStyle,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Empty boxes were stacked along a side wall in the locker room as players shuffled in and out to pack up a season’s worth of shirts and jerseys and cleats and memorabilia.—
Nicki Jhabvala,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
-
First, the sophomore shuffled back into coverage after showing A-gap pressure to intercept a Bryce Underwood pass over the middle of the field, ending a key fourth-quarter drive.—
David Eckert,
Austin American Statesman,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Several school districts in Massachusetts and New Hampshire have delayed the start of classes Wednesday because of the freezing rain and icy roads.—
WBZ-News Staff,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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While the football program, which will move up to Class 5A for the next two-year cycle that starts in 2026, has established itself as a perennial playoff team under Startzer, other Nighthawks programs have also burst onto the scene.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
8 Nov. 2025
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Hagan’s initial shot on a corner was deflected to the left wing, and Cusack bursted to the loose ball to flick it in.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Crawled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crawled. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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