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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of crawling
Bestreviews, Mercury News, 29 Sep. 2025
Waking up an hour earlier than expected and being hosed with mountain runoff water while crawling in the pool tested my resilience and determination.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Sep. 2025
The cookline oven’s door latch had four live roaches crawling around it.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 26 Sep. 2025
At the time, officials concluded that a few mussels likely hitched a ride on a boat that had been in another infested area, most probably one of the Great Lakes in the Midwest, which are crawling with the critters.
—Shaun McKinnon, AZCentral.com, 23 Sep. 2025
Tyriq Withers plays a rising quarterback who, in one skin-crawling scene — spoiler alert!
—Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 21 Sep. 2025
Kids will enjoy the bright lights, crawling through tunnels and interactive games.
—Kansas City Star, 18 Sep. 2025
After years of crawling toward success at a Sisyphean pace, Jake’s business is finally starting to find success.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2025
There are high columns crawling with ivy, nearly 12 acres of rolling lawns, teensy windows with teensy shutters, and a diminutive pool house that apes a fairy-tale cottage.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
For a child who’s crawling or walking, a mat with pop-up walls or fencing can keep your little one safe and contained.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 29 Sep. 2025
Waking up an hour earlier than expected and being hosed with mountain runoff water while crawling in the pool tested my resilience and determination.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Sep. 2025
The cookline oven’s door latch had four live roaches crawling around it.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 26 Sep. 2025
At the time, officials concluded that a few mussels likely hitched a ride on a boat that had been in another infested area, most probably one of the Great Lakes in the Midwest, which are crawling with the critters.
—Shaun McKinnon, AZCentral.com, 23 Sep. 2025
Tyriq Withers plays a rising quarterback who, in one skin-crawling scene — spoiler alert!
—Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 21 Sep. 2025
Kids will enjoy the bright lights, crawling through tunnels and interactive games.
—Kansas City Star, 18 Sep. 2025
After years of crawling toward success at a Sisyphean pace, Jake’s business is finally starting to find success.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2025
There are high columns crawling with ivy, nearly 12 acres of rolling lawns, teensy windows with teensy shutters, and a diminutive pool house that apes a fairy-tale cottage.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 16 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crawling
Adjective
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Drip coffee and pour-overs are closest to the leisurely style enjoyed in Ethiopia, whereas Italian espresso culture was designed to create a more rapid approach.—
Lyndsay C. Green,
Freep.com,
28 Sep. 2025
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Bedoya said the residence is dubbed Asolare, which in Italian means to pass time in a delightful, leisurely way.—
David Caraccio,
Sacbee.com,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The latest forecast shows Imelda creeping along Florida’s coast for the next few days — a slowdown from Saturday’s forecast.—
Alex Harris
Updated September 28,
Miami Herald,
28 Sep. 2025
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First, during this same time, genre elements, and specifically dark speculative elements, were creeping into all fiction.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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For Thiago’s second goal midway through the first half, Ouattara ambled back towards his own goal down the centre of the pitch, dragging Shaw and Dorgu with him.—
Conor O'Neill,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
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The clip ends with the owner managing to open the door—dragging the golden retriever along with it—as their other pets enter the frame to see them off.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Wandering among the half naked nymphs and leering wolves and buff mermen poking their lovely wet heads out of glassy forest pools, their eyes dark with wanting to drag her down to oblivion.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Sep. 2025
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While some are panicking about the potential event, others are poking fun at the prediction.—
Cailey Gleeson,
jsonline.com,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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So with Fenway Park bursting with anticipation on Friday night, the pressure ratcheted up against the Detroit Tigers, Chapman narrowed his focus — not just to the catcher’s mitt, but the laces within its webbing.—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
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While the first game trafficked in elegant neatness, Hades II is practically bursting at the seams with excess.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The slow start that Mayfield is alluding to has to do with the Buccaneers only scoring two field goals through the first half, and scoring their first touchdown well into the third quarter.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Sep. 2025
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Construction in the section of Jackson Park, often described as Chicago’s equivalent of Central Park, has been slow.—
Christine Valora,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Hydroplaning is the term for when a vehicle begins sliding uncontrollably on wet roads.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
28 Sep. 2025
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Hydroplaning is when a vehicle starts uncontrollably sliding on wet roads.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The video shows agents ducking for cover in front of two white vans while quickly shuffling detainees inside the facility, where an ICE agent frantically guided the detainees down a hallway.—
Peter D'Abrosca , Brooke Taylor,
FOXNews.com,
26 Sep. 2025
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Instead of shuffling through the deep cabinet shelves for small jars, attach rows of slim shelves with dowel rods to safely hold a few dozen spices.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
24 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Crawling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crawling. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.
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