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
Then there's support for the optional Polar Cooler, which routes chilled air toward the extruder and filament path to reduce heat creep during hotter chamber operation—further reinforcing the Max 4’s focus on sustained high-temperature printing. — Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 15 Aug. 2026 Traffic crawled at a creep along Independence Boulevard in those days. — Dj Simmons, Charlotte Observer, 15 Aug. 2026
Verb
His football endurance might still be coming along; his football instincts might still be creeping back; his contact-balance is still a skill that needs to be strengthened after years of atrophy. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 22 Aug. 2026 Around this time, Earth's curved inner shadow will appear to creep across the lunar surface while leaving a thin crescent exposed to direct sunlight at the point of maximum eclipse. — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 22 Aug. 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
  • In Show Must Go On, the comedian embraces his own compassion by pretending to be a jerk.
    — Britina Cheng, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026
  • That screwed up the works / And not due to his sloppy hiring / Of a crew of incompetent jerks.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of jerk
Verb
  • Things Fall Apart Chinua Achebe’s story explores the life of a man, Okonkwo, and his home in Nigeria, which is forever changed when outside forces begin to encroach.
    — Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Hundreds of researchers at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory have observed changes including fewer bees and other pollinators, and sagebrush encroaching in valleys once dominated by wildflowers.
    — Brittany Peterson, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of encroach
Verb
  • Ferry services to islands were disrupted and trains arriving from Latvia and Lithuania delayed.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Paramount had previously agreed to delay the acquisition to as late as June 2027 due to the legal challenge, and a trial is set for March.
    — Ian Thomas, CNBC, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of delay
Verb
  • Their only hope is for someone to crawl across the room to the spot with the most intense g-forces and turn it off.
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Classicist and Roman plumbing expert Ann Olga Koloski-Ostrow suggests that private toilets might have been cut off from the municipal sewers to prevent animals crawling up the pipes and into homes.
    — Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of crawl
Verb
  • The multiday move lower in oil prices has also dragged bond yields lower.
    — Steve Kopack, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The Huskies ultimately won both ends of a home-and-home series, but the second game dragged perilously into overtime.
    — Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of drag
Noun
  • The Perk That Actually Works For years, companies have competed to fill their offices with amenities meant to signal ambition—ping pong tables, nap rooms, office dogs, sprawling lounges.
    — Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Authorities are using divers, dogs, sonar and other types of technologies to scour the area for Karen Solomon, Saucier said.
    — Elise Hammond, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of dog
Verb
  • Rain has already begun to move across the Big Island and is expected to continue through at least Monday, with lingering rain still impacting some of the islands possibly on Tuesday.
    — Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • If any lingering question of home-court advantage persisted, it was made crystal clear in the final 30 seconds who had the biggest backing, as Barclays erupted in celebration of the Liberty’s game-winning plays down the stretch.
    — Annie Costabile, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of linger
Verb
  • The Premier League trophy was kept out of the way, not shown off, apart from the blazing cover picture in the souvenir programme which ensured queues snaking through the crowd to purchase this special memento.
    — Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
  • When her foster mom is preparing dinner, Lu sneakily samples from her siblings’ meals, snaking her tongue into each bowl.
    — Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 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 28 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on creep

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about creep

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