creep 1 of 2

Definition of creepnext

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
Succumbing to the urge to scroll Instagram the second conversation grows quiet or social awkwardness creeps in. Audrey Pachuta, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2026 Clement’s sad-sack charm successfully boosts the leap of faith required to keep Steve from becoming an oblivious creep, but the show belongs to Walker. Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
Verb
Make weeding easier on yourself by weeding when the weather is cooler in the morning or the evening and applying mulch over empty soil where weeds may creep in. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 June 2026 The joy crept in after Derek Hill leapt and stretched his arm over the Citi Field center field wall, then threw to the infield, saving what certainly would have been a two-run homer from Juan Soto in Friday’s first inning. Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 27 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for creep
Recent Examples of Synonyms for creep
Noun
  • This Jamaican restaurant, located just off Main Street, brings Caribbean flavors to Mackinac Island’s solid rotation of restaurants, with planked whitefish and jerk chicken sandwiches.
    Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 13 June 2026
  • After Game 4, jerks were throwing things at Victor Wembanyama.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 13 June 2026
Verb
  • The latest installment shifts focus from the dynamic between Woody and Buzz to Jessie, telling a story about the encroaching role of technology in children’s development.
    Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 22 June 2026
  • People around Putin cannot afford to step outside their sphere of responsibility or encroach on someone else’s interests (with some exceptions in the military and security services).
    Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 18 June 2026
Verb
  • Still, some experts say the lack of awareness may delay some eligible adults from taking advantage of the new coverage and getting on the treatments immediately.
    Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 28 June 2026
  • The last time Colombia played at Miami Stadium, the 2024 Copa América final against Argentina was delayed more than 75 minutes after a security breach involving ticketless fans, with some appearing to enter through air vents.
    Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 28 June 2026
Verb
  • So, while the Dodgers crawled out of the hole with a season-high 17 hits, the steep cost heightens the pressure on the rest of the rotation the rest of the series.
    Liana Handler Follow, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • The Germans were crawling as far as the street, dashing across the asphalt, then leaping into the second trench.
    Vasily Grossman, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • But as the days dragged on, headlines about power outages and water shortages took a back seat to a far more gruesome and horrific reality.
    Adam Harrington, CBS News, 1 July 2026
  • Compounding concerns, California officials say the Department of Transportation is dragging its feet.
    Lauren Morganbesser, semafor.com, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • What breaks my heart is that Vermax’s cries sounded like a dog crying, a dog dying.
    Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 22 June 2026
  • Roughly the size of a large dog and weighing more than 110 pounds (50 kilograms), the quadruped robot is designed to navigate industrial facilities that include staircases, narrow walkways, uneven surfaces, and confined spaces.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • The town’s predicament highlights the limits of any ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel, and the lingering hardship faced by residents whose lives have been upended by years of conflict.
    Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 23 June 2026
  • Robertson answered any lingering questions about his game with his franchise-caliber play.
    Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • Note a new parade route this year, starting at the corner of 12th Avenue and North 3rd Street and snaking down 5th Avenue toward South 8th Street.
    Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 24 June 2026
  • Today, the two bands have announced the Bitch Cabal Tour, a co-headlining run snaking its way across the American Midwest and South this fall.
    Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 23 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Creep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/creep. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.

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