as in leisurely
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed
the crawling pace of the narrative is really frustrating
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in creeping
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
2
as in dragging
to move slowly
the weekend traffic on the road to the beach just crawled
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in poking
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 crawling
Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 13 May 2026
Staff started out by wearing bear masks and animal furs, then crawling into the enclosure to spoon-feed the cubs formula.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
She was all set to come crawling back to Brandon!
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 11 May 2026
Rather than crawling through the living room doggie door, Maxwell sleeps in one of the former cells, with easy outdoor access, and his own garden.
—Kansas City Star, 10 May 2026
The nation’s capital is crawling with right-wing enemies of Social Security who would like nothing more.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 8 May 2026
Squad cars from other departments in nearby suburbs and the Illinois State Police sat in traffic crawling north on Sheridan as neighbors peered up the street from in front of their high-rises.
—Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026
Ahmed Moustafa, who operates a halal cart near Yankee Stadium, is still crawling out from the pandemic.
—Yuna Kim, New York Daily News, 6 May 2026
Detroit then went to Orlando and extended its hopes yet again — crawling out of a 24-point hole through a historic clampdown.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 5 May 2026
Verb
Police said the driver was eventually able to escape by crawling out a window.
—Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 13 May 2026
Staff started out by wearing bear masks and animal furs, then crawling into the enclosure to spoon-feed the cubs formula.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
She was all set to come crawling back to Brandon!
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 11 May 2026
Rather than crawling through the living room doggie door, Maxwell sleeps in one of the former cells, with easy outdoor access, and his own garden.
—Kansas City Star, 10 May 2026
The nation’s capital is crawling with right-wing enemies of Social Security who would like nothing more.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 8 May 2026
Squad cars from other departments in nearby suburbs and the Illinois State Police sat in traffic crawling north on Sheridan as neighbors peered up the street from in front of their high-rises.
—Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026
Ahmed Moustafa, who operates a halal cart near Yankee Stadium, is still crawling out from the pandemic.
—Yuna Kim, New York Daily News, 6 May 2026
Detroit then went to Orlando and extended its hopes yet again — crawling out of a 24-point hole through a historic clampdown.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 5 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crawling
Adjective
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They’re also covered in an airy mesh upper material that facilitates airflow during activities — including sweaty workouts and leisurely strolls.—
Clara McMahon,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
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Yes, there are two international trips, including one to the literal other side of the world — a destination that makes Mexico City’s 7,200 feet of altitude seem like a leisurely stroll down the block, making the Niners the league’s official guinea pigs for global domination.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Audiences have championed the films for their creeping realism and slow-building scares that made ordinary bedrooms, hallways and home security cameras feel terrifying.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
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This low-mounding shade perennial sends up taller, slender stems with airy flower clusters, and the groundcover spreads by slowly creeping rhizomes.—
Judy Nauseef,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 May 2026
Verb
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Travelers end up dragging coats through museums or try to shove them into already full suitcases before a train transfer.—
Chantelle Kincy,
Travel + Leisure,
10 May 2026
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That’s led to a stark split between Wall Street analysts and energy experts, who have been warning that oil supplies could head off a cliff in the coming months or even weeks, dragging the global economy down in the process.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
10 May 2026
Verb
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Before Sweets could be dressed and draped for surgery, the three feet of stick poking out of her body needed to be addressed.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
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British politics in 2026 is a landscape of meh, with Farage’s grin poking over the horizon.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Nobody’s certain how many visitors will materialize for the anniversary year, but the shop is bursting with merchandise.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
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From fresh guacamole to flavorful enchiladas, everything is made with care and bursting with flavor.—
Hannah Howard,
Travel + Leisure,
10 May 2026
Adjective
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Pool service can be a bit slow during busy times, but once your perfectly prepared daiquiri arrives, all is forgiven.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
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So future agreements could involve cooler normalisation, selective security cooperation, quieter diplomacy and a slower expansion.—
Chas Newkey-Burden,
TheWeek,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Whitlock was able to recover and make a sliding catch to end the inning, but Wong did not return and was subbed out for Carlos Narvaez to catch the ninth.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
14 May 2026
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That led to bulkier versions that helped guard against limbs sliding between the cushion and tubes, ending with a final iteration that, much to Axelsson’s pride, some colleagues didn’t realize was filled with air until its inventor asked them to stand up and hoist it above their heads.—
Jack Bantock,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Facebook groups and other online communities have sprung up around shuffling, allowing expats navigating all sorts of situations to compare notes and share strategies.—
Carole Rosenblat,
CNN Money,
12 May 2026
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But sometimes, simply shuffling the pieces can help, in our view.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crawling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crawling. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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