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
Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 11 June 2026
He was found on Thursday morning, crawling towards Base Camp, and airlifted to Kathmandu, where doctors are treating him for frostbite, severe dehydration and a fractured thigh bone.
—CBS News, 10 June 2026
Removing the lowest leaves can reduce the risk of these problems and keep some pests from crawling onto your plants.
—Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 9 June 2026
Ötzi the Iceman, Europe’s most famous mummy, is crawling with microbes, some long dead, some still eking out a living after thousands of years, and some very modern.
—ArsTechnica, 6 June 2026
The Thursday night group was seen leaving about three hours afterward, according to the NYPD, while the second odd circumstance ended after individuals were seen crawling out and leaving in a vehicle more than two and a half hours after.
—Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 4 June 2026
The next day, with water levels having dropped inside the cave, the remaining four men caught rescuers by surprise, crawling out on their own just as divers were getting ready to go in and get them.
—Janis MacKey Frayer, NBC news, 4 June 2026
That changed on Thursday, June 4, when he was seen slowly crawling down the snowy mountainside to Base Camp by a cleaning crew, the BBC reported.
—Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 4 June 2026
Toddlers and babies spend their days at floor level, crawling through dust, putting hands and objects in their mouths, and breathing air closer to the ground than anyone else.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 3 June 2026
Verb
Wrigley Field West, aka Coors Field, was crawling with Cubs fans on Tuesday night.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 11 June 2026
He was found on Thursday morning, crawling towards Base Camp, and airlifted to Kathmandu, where doctors are treating him for frostbite, severe dehydration and a fractured thigh bone.
—CBS News, 10 June 2026
Removing the lowest leaves can reduce the risk of these problems and keep some pests from crawling onto your plants.
—Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 9 June 2026
Ötzi the Iceman, Europe’s most famous mummy, is crawling with microbes, some long dead, some still eking out a living after thousands of years, and some very modern.
—ArsTechnica, 6 June 2026
The Thursday night group was seen leaving about three hours afterward, according to the NYPD, while the second odd circumstance ended after individuals were seen crawling out and leaving in a vehicle more than two and a half hours after.
—Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 4 June 2026
The next day, with water levels having dropped inside the cave, the remaining four men caught rescuers by surprise, crawling out on their own just as divers were getting ready to go in and get them.
—Janis MacKey Frayer, NBC news, 4 June 2026
That changed on Thursday, June 4, when he was seen slowly crawling down the snowy mountainside to Base Camp by a cleaning crew, the BBC reported.
—Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 4 June 2026
Toddlers and babies spend their days at floor level, crawling through dust, putting hands and objects in their mouths, and breathing air closer to the ground than anyone else.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 3 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crawling
Adjective
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For those seeking a more leisurely route, expedition cruises (like HX Expeditions, Silversea Cruises, and MSC Cruises) not only allows travelers to take in breathtaking views along the way, but also avoids the weather unpredictability of Arctic air travel.—
Susmita Baral,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Dec. 2025
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Sports cars are a different breed anyway, with cornering dynamics that make even a fairly leisurely drive on city streets in Southern California feel at times like a day at the track.—
Eric D. Lawrence,
Freep.com,
4 Dec. 2025
Verb
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But the sheer brutality and creeping terror of the simplistic opening scene makes the rest of the film — with its gratuitous set pieces and CGI gore — seem much more inelegant.—
Brianna Zigler,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 June 2026
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Plant creeping thyme as a lawn replacement, placing plugs 6-12 inches apart.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Mbappé has already been a hero for his country, winning the World Cup in 2018 and scoring a hat-trick in the 2022 final while almost dragging his team to an unlikely defense of the title.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
16 June 2026
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Avoid activities that could create a spark, including campfires, outdoor burning and dragging trailer chains.—
Joe Ruch,
CBS News,
16 June 2026
Verb
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Earlier this year, the Mars Odyssey captured a dazzling image showing an unprecedented view of a 12-mile-high volcano poking through clouds at dawn on the red planet.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 Dec. 2025
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Starting in 2000, the Steelers, Jets, Colts, Ravens, Broncos all took turns poking the bear that was the dynasty-era Patriots, and, occasionally, drew blood.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
7 Dec. 2025
Verb
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But with Skydance’s reputation for quality game titles and Paramount’s vast library, there’s potential to carve out a space in a market that’s crowded to the point of bursting.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
10 June 2026
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The basilica's heights are bursting with nature, from the rooster who crowed while Peter denied Christ to reptiles doing the job of gargoyles, and piles of fruit that crown its spires.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 June 2026
Adjective
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A little snow in the morning; cloudy, chilly; slow and slippery travel in the morning; improving road conditions in the afternoon.—
Jackie Borchardt,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
12 Dec. 2025
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Liverpool have been much slower starters, getting outscored 6-8 in Premier League first halves (and 1-4 in the opening 15 minutes of their games).—
Liam Tharme,
New York Times,
12 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Hydroplaning happens when a vehicle starts sliding uncontrollably on wet roads.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
12 June 2026
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The main event, though, is the ski room—where ski butlers furnish guests with state-of-the-art skis before sliding them onto the slicked Jardin Alpin piste with or without an instructor.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Nilles reportedly learned 40 songs for the tour, so expect some setlist shuffling each date.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
8 June 2026
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The move comes one year after the team promoted Saleh to general manager after another round of shuffling in its front office.—
Lauren Williams,
AJC.com,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crawling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crawling. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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