creep 1 of 2

creep

2 of 2

verb

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

4

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
Despite the slow creep of automation, many fields still require the human touch. Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 18 May 2025 But between inflated ad tech layers, the persistent creep of made-for-advertising (MFA) sites and brand safety issues, and a growing ecosystem of fraudulent traffic, staying on course isn’t always straightforward. Jeff Kaplan, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025
Verb
The first year was challenging—financial setbacks and self-doubt crept in—but by the second year, Ian was making six figures at just 19 years old. Jason Phillips, USA Today, 4 June 2025 Still, illusions are bound to creep in on June 18, when Jupiter squares Neptune, as this could test our ability to see things clearly and stay grounded amid the emotional upheaval. Valerie Mesa, People.com, 1 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for creep
Recent Examples of Synonyms for creep
Noun
  • But in politics — as in life —there’s a fine line between being genuine and being a jerk.
    Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
  • Smoky, spicy jerk is also on the menu in the Pulled Jerk Pork & Coconut Shrimp appetizer at Eleanor’s at Sandals Grande Antigua.
    Sandals Resorts, AFAR Media, 4 June 2025
Verb
  • Apple once owned the premium device space, but competitors are now encroaching on its turf.
    Jackie Snow, Quartz, 7 June 2025
  • At this year’s Cannes Film Festival, the industry was awash with buyers, sellers and festival heads chattering about how to come to grips with this new phase of technology that is increasingly encroaching on the traditional space.
    Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 4 June 2025
Verb
  • Since his sentencing 37 years ago, Menzies' attorneys have filed multiple appeals that delayed his death sentence, which had been scheduled at least twice before it was postponed.
    Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 7 June 2025
  • Last year, the NFL reported a 20,000% increase in unauthorized drone activity over games between 2017 and 2023, some of which delayed games.
    Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 7 June 2025
Verb
  • The men allegedly crawled out of the hole to a loading dock, scaled an exterior concrete wall of the jail complex and darted across a freeway to freedom.
    Kati Weis, CBS News, 29 May 2025
  • The Zenbook crawled to the finish line in every test.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 29 May 2025
Verb
  • Over the Great Plains, the high-level flow of winds has been pushing the smoke south, and shifting upper-level winds from the west will drag the smoke over the eastern states, according to The Weather Channel.
    Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 5 June 2025
  • The phone call between Trump and Putin came as the war, which has dragged on for nearly 3.5 years, shows no signs of abating despite mounting pressure for a diplomatic breakthrough.
    Nik Popli, Time, 4 June 2025
Verb
  • That’s because there will be periods of heavy rain and a mass of lingering unstable and humid air swirling about South Florida.
    Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 3 June 2025
  • The finish is long and sweet, with lingering notes of peat smoke, honey, vanilla, and a hint of oak spice.
    Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
Verb
  • The time-lapse video shows a plasmoid snaking across the sun at almost 62 miles (100 kilometers) per second.
    Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 29 May 2025
  • It’s carved from a snaking mulberry branch and adorned with microchips, with a C.P.U. fan and a small desk clock embedded in the smoothly polished wood near its head.
    Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 29 May 2025
Verb
  • That victory put O’Malley back in the rankings. O’Malley’s next bout ended in a no contest, when an eye poke in the second round left Pedro Munhoz unable to continue.
    Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025
  • Senior Russian security official Dmitry Medvedev poked fun at the explosive war of words between U.S. President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, offering to mediate peace between the two political allies.
    Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Creep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/creep. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on creep

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!