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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of crawled
During rush hour, drivers crawled along at an average speed of just under 19 miles per hour.
—
Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 23 Jan. 2026
But that was well over a year ago, and the procurement process has crawled ever since.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
Some of the protesters crawled to escape the gunfire.
—Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2026
Before the van could drive away, one quick thinker crawled under it and stayed there for the duration of the eight-hour protest that followed.
—Josh Slater-Williams, IndieWire, 22 Jan. 2026
Insects crawled on surfaces, as well as in and out of animal cages.
—Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 Jan. 2026
Inching through the beam of light, an alien creature crawled across the surface of the sand, resembling an inch-long cluster of ghostly leaves fringed with silvery filigree and capped with a pair of antennae-like stalks.
—Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2026
As its offense crawled back, the defense forced three turnovers on downs.
—Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 15 Jan. 2026
One team member crawled inside and fired paintballs filled with vegetable oil, wildlife organization BEAR League told Fox News Digital on Thursday.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 23 Jan. 2026
But that was well over a year ago, and the procurement process has crawled ever since.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
Some of the protesters crawled to escape the gunfire.
—Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2026
Before the van could drive away, one quick thinker crawled under it and stayed there for the duration of the eight-hour protest that followed.
—Josh Slater-Williams, IndieWire, 22 Jan. 2026
Insects crawled on surfaces, as well as in and out of animal cages.
—Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 Jan. 2026
Inching through the beam of light, an alien creature crawled across the surface of the sand, resembling an inch-long cluster of ghostly leaves fringed with silvery filigree and capped with a pair of antennae-like stalks.
—Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2026
As its offense crawled back, the defense forced three turnovers on downs.
—Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 15 Jan. 2026
One team member crawled inside and fired paintballs filled with vegetable oil, wildlife organization BEAR League told Fox News Digital on Thursday.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crawled
Verb
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However, dynamic pricing has quietly crept into far more areas of our daily lives than ticketing.—
David Carlucci,
New York Daily News,
21 Jan. 2026
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Even searches for ethnic slurs hurled at Danish people — language that has historically crept into the American lexicon to dehumanize wartime enemies — come up thin.—
John C. Moritz,
Austin American Statesman,
18 Jan. 2026
Verb
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However, that advice changed after recent attacks – including two in 2023, when a 10-year-old boy was dragged underwater by a dingo before his sister stepped in, and when a woman was attacked despite running into the surf to escape four dingoes.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
24 Jan. 2026
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Cops say that after being struck by Griffiths, Underwood was run over and dragged for more than two blocks by a black-and-gray sedan.—
Nicholas Williams,
Mercury News,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Around her, dozens of community members lingered along the street with coffee handed out by volunteers, hugging old friends, calling out familiar names and answering a steady chorus of car horns with cheers and applause as students made their way toward campus, backpacks slung over their shoulders.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
28 Jan. 2026
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In Nashville, Tennessee, where nearly 100,000 power outages lingered early Wednesday, high temperatures were to rise just above freezing before plunging to 13 Fahrenheit overnight.—
Russ Bynum,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Not only do the four statues bode well for the film’s future, but the room buzzed with good will for Anderson, who didn’t try to hide his glee.—
Alli Rosenbloom,
CNN Money,
11 Jan. 2026
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Visitors must be buzzed in by staff in order to enter past the front office.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The clear message from state leaders to residents was stay home and don't drive, but already dozens of drivers have slid off the roads.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
24 Jan. 2026
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Seven minutes later, the first firetruck slid to a stop as firefighters took in the impossible scene in front of them.—
Nichole Manna,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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An owner of the Signature Room shuffled its assets around to avoid paying workers who were abruptly laid off when the iconic restaurant and lounge shuttered in 2023, a lawsuit filed in Cook County Circuit Court this week alleges.—
Talia Soglin,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
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Arenas shuffled up and down the pickleball court and shifted laterally, quickly racking up the points and shutting out Jennings in the game, 11-0.—
Haley Sawyer,
Oc Register,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Developer Omega Force and publisher Koei Tecmo announced that it has been delayed to an unspecified date.—
George Yang,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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If lawmakers fail to reach a bipartisan compromise on ICE funding, the agency’s annual funding will be delayed.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Extreme cold snaps in Chicago can cause trees to crack and burst from freezing stress.—
Christiana Freitag,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Jan. 2026
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Then be sure to read our guide bursting with handy tips on how to photograph Earth's natural satellite, along with our picks of the best cameras and lenses for capturing the majesty of the night sky.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crawled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crawled. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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