as in leisurely
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed
at this creeping pace of progress we'll never have the float ready for the parade
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in encroaching
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
as in lingering
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in crawling
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
as in dragging
to move slowly
the class hour seems to creep by
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of creeping
Charlie Jane Anders, Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2023
As a child, she was plagued by anxiety and the creeping sense that adults, especially her mother, were keeping secrets from the kids.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Jan. 2023
Then comes the creeping sense that their conversation is screwy.
—Amy Nicholson, Variety, 11 Sep. 2022
For some, once the initial shock wore off, a creeping sense of inevitability set in.
—Ruth Madievsky, The Atlantic, 18 July 2022
This growing entanglement of the corporate and social, this creeping sense of being tracked by invisible eyes, demands an increasing sophistication about what is said and where.
—Kara Devlin, Longreads, 20 May 2022
But beneath the know-it-all tweets, there is a creeping sense that the psychological distance between the masses of 401(k) investors and the billionaire marks may not be that far.
—New York Times, 9 Oct. 2021
Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Mar. 2026
And despite volatility across markets, oil prices don’t seem to be creeping back toward catastrophic levels.
—Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 13 Mar. 2026
The postseason is creeping closer and the Stars are currently in the mix for a top spot.
—Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 13 Mar. 2026
His Boston accent keeps creeping into his performances?
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
Lemon thyme, for instance, is prized for its lemony flavor; while creeping thyme has a particularly low growth habit and can be used as an edible ground cover or grass alternative in lawns.
—Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 11 Mar. 2026
Joseph also responded to worries about facial recognition and other surveillance technologies creeping into the system by emphasizing the cameras used in San Jose only record vehicles’ license plates.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
Plantains, dandelions, creeping Charlie, quackgrass, and nutsedge are examples of perennial weeds.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 8 Mar. 2026
That gives it notes of black pepper and baking spices like cinnamon, creeping into the fruit-forward palate to provide a counterbalance to the whiskey’s inherent sweetness.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
The overall effect is one of decadence laced with a creeping sense of horror.
—Charlie Jane Anders, Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2023
As a child, she was plagued by anxiety and the creeping sense that adults, especially her mother, were keeping secrets from the kids.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Jan. 2023
Then comes the creeping sense that their conversation is screwy.
—Amy Nicholson, Variety, 11 Sep. 2022
For some, once the initial shock wore off, a creeping sense of inevitability set in.
—Ruth Madievsky, The Atlantic, 18 July 2022
This growing entanglement of the corporate and social, this creeping sense of being tracked by invisible eyes, demands an increasing sophistication about what is said and where.
—Kara Devlin, Longreads, 20 May 2022
But beneath the know-it-all tweets, there is a creeping sense that the psychological distance between the masses of 401(k) investors and the billionaire marks may not be that far.
—New York Times, 9 Oct. 2021
Verb
Because the weeds will start creeping through the cracks in no time, grab the Grampa’s Weeder that gardeners in their 50s, 60s, and 70s use without bending down.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Mar. 2026
And despite volatility across markets, oil prices don’t seem to be creeping back toward catastrophic levels.
—Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 13 Mar. 2026
The postseason is creeping closer and the Stars are currently in the mix for a top spot.
—Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 13 Mar. 2026
His Boston accent keeps creeping into his performances?
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
Lemon thyme, for instance, is prized for its lemony flavor; while creeping thyme has a particularly low growth habit and can be used as an edible ground cover or grass alternative in lawns.
—Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 11 Mar. 2026
Joseph also responded to worries about facial recognition and other surveillance technologies creeping into the system by emphasizing the cameras used in San Jose only record vehicles’ license plates.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
Plantains, dandelions, creeping Charlie, quackgrass, and nutsedge are examples of perennial weeds.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 8 Mar. 2026
That gives it notes of black pepper and baking spices like cinnamon, creeping into the fruit-forward palate to provide a counterbalance to the whiskey’s inherent sweetness.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 6 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for creeping
Adjective
-
Doing so will give you easy access to the beach and make leisurely days of fun in the sun more accessible.—
Jennifer Prince,
Southern Living,
13 Mar. 2026
-
This mini dress pairs classic white polka dots with a nautical navy base, nodding to the breezy sailor-chic trend while remaining versatile enough to wear as a beach cover-up, a sunny sightseeing outfit, or for leisurely island walks.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
On her grandmother's island of Ambae, a coastal road from the airport to her village has been rerouted inland because of encroaching water.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 2026
-
On her grandmother’s island of Ambae, a coastal road from the airport to her village has been rerouted inland because of encroaching water.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Edwards will finish the season with a career low in games played, having already missed four games with a right hamstring strain and a total of six games over three different stretches with a lingering right foot injury.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
-
That said, with the Cboe Volatility Index still lingering in the 20s, this is not the time to go heavy.—
Nishant Pant,
CNBC,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Others made a break for the bathrooms, crawling or running in a hunched position.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
8 Mar. 2026
-
When the bus snakes towards San Siro, crawling through the fans, Tomori will feel a familiar emotion.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Jones continued to pull on the bag, dragging the man around, according to the footage.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Pulled straight out of Ireland and dropped onto 14th Street, Grace’s boasts dim candlelight, brotherly bartenders, and a leveled grit that leaves you teetering between kicking off a folk song or dragging from a cigarette from a stranger outside.—
Charlie Hobbs,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Experiencing that life cycle of knowing where my food comes from and watching my uncles do the butchering and then eating it the same day through slow roasting was really impactful for me as a kid.—
Claire Salinda,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Perhaps both movements could have animated each other; perhaps the subsequent fight for women’s suffrage would have been less sporadic and slow.—
Moira Donegan,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The temporary grace period delaying enforcement of the new law also applies to provisions restricting who can use which restrooms and other private spaces on government property.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The judge had postponed her sentencing until after the trial, delaying it further until after Serafini was sentenced.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Just as the program appeared to be sliding, however, Hurley engineered a turnaround in 2022-23.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Hydroplaning is when a vehicle starts uncontrollably sliding on wet roads.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Creeping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/creeping. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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