creep 1 of 2

noun

Definition of creepnext
as in jerk
a person whose behavior is offensive to others finally found the creep who kept throwing his trash in the woods

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

creep

2 of 2

verb

ˈkrēp How to pronounce creep (audio)
1
as in to encroach
to advance gradually beyond the usual or desirable limits water crept slowly over the top of the tub and onto the floor

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2
as in to delay
to move or act slowly that Friday afternoon we were just creeping, waiting for the bell to sound so that we could start the long weekend

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to crawl
to move slowly with the body close to the ground the kitten crept silently across the floor before suddenly pouncing on the mouse

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4
as in to drag
to move slowly the class hour seems to creep by

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of creep
Noun
Within a few blinks, the red-and-white curbing blurs into a solid pink, and a hint of tunnel vision creeps in while the electronic stability control steadies the Bolide. — Sean Evans, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2026 Such a ban would set back our creep toward renewable energy but could be justified by increasing utility prices for the remaining customers who cannot provide their own energy source. — The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 21 Sep. 2026
Verb
Yep, there are more and more signs creeping in by the election cycle. — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026 The tone creeps into despair as the scales fall from Sutskever’s eyes. — E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for creep
Recent Examples of Synonyms for creep
  1. jerk
  2. encroach
  3. delay
  4. crawl
  5. drag
  6. dog
  7. linger
  8. snake
Noun
  • From award-winning jerk pork wraps to classic rice and peas, every bite celebrates our heritage.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Bella’s childhood friend Angus (Jake Simmance), a corporate jerk, condescendingly probes Johnny about his career.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of jerk
Verb
  • However, the brand’s initial dominance has gradually waned, according to insiders, as competing brands have encroached on Fenty Beauty’s market share.
    — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Wildfires encroached on major European cities, a once unthinkable threat.
    — Justin Worland, Time, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of encroach
Verb
  • At least 75 data center projects worth more than $130 billion total were delayed or cancelled in the first three months of this year, according to a Data Center Watch report published in June.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2026
  • By the time the architectural plans were finished, COVID hit, and Hotel Lucile was further delayed.
    — Mickey Rapkin, HollywoodReporter, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of delay
Verb
  • In May 2025, after Williams shut off the water in a cell, 10 inmates removed a toilet, crawled through a gap in the wall and scaled a fence out of the jail.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • At the hospital, an insect fell from the girl’s shoe, and a staffer saw a cockroach crawling on her, the district attorney’s office said.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of crawl
Verb
  • Dozens of locations in the central and southern US will soar to record high temperatures on Tuesday, but the incoming front will drag those highs down by more than 30 degrees in many locales by Friday or Saturday.
    — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026
  • As the comet rotates, fresh ice enters the sunlight and sublimates; the escaping gas then drags entrained dust particles away from the nucleus.
    — Joe Rao, Space.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of drag
Noun
  • The first product in the line is a dog shampoo in the brand’s Orange & Cedarwood scent, priced at 18 pounds.
    — Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Mainly looking to drown out a snoring partner, a barking dog or an overactive brain?
    — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of dog
Verb
  • Wallace lingered in the car for a few minutes once slowing to a stop, though — long enough for health workers to unload a stretcher that Wallace ultimately didn’t use.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 11 Oct. 2026
  • While Beverly Hills and West Hollywood bounced back after the pandemic, Santa Monica continues to struggle with retail vacancies and lingering economic woes.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of linger
Verb
  • After practice, the guard was seen with kinesiology tape snaking up his right calf while working on the court with assistant coaches.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Long lines of vehicles snaked outside gas stations across Indonesia’s resort island of Bali this week after fuel deliveries were disrupted by a combination of technical problems, bad weather and surging demand, officials said Wednesday.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of snake

Phrases Containing creep

Browse Nearby Words

creeks
creep
creeper
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Cite this Entry

“Creep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/creep. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about creep

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