as in jerks
a person whose behavior is offensive to others
finally found the creep who kept throwing his trash in the woods
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in encroaches
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 lingers
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of creeps
Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 23 Mar. 2026
The draft is interesting because there aren’t the top-of-the-board type options like last year (Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren) but the closer late April creeps, the deeper many people believe the tight end crop is on the whole.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 21 Mar. 2026
Jamie doesn’t fully buy it for a bunch of reasons but especially because those two dudes are incredible creeps and one of them tried to coerce Fanny into joining him on the road.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
Ad dollars are crucial as the cost of staging the tournament creeps ever upwards.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 20 Mar. 2026
While the Colts try to navigate what’s already been a newsworthy offseason, especially over the last week, the draft creeps closer.
—James Boyd, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Before the fretting reaches a head, one of Barbieri’s backing oscillators creeps forward into a nimble major-key ostinato that sounds like it was lifted from a Lorenzo Senni daydream, transforming a slight shift in timbre and time signature into a crescendo of new hope.
—Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 2 Mar. 2026
Lunar eclipses happen when the Earth passes directly between the sun and moon, casting a gigantic shadow that creeps across the moon’s surface.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2026
The subtle darkening that creeps across the lunar surface during this phase is incredibly easy to miss, becoming more pronounced as this early stage draws to a close.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2026
This time round, though, an unfortunate silliness sometimes creeps in, where the film risks tipping over Shakespearean-size emotions into embarrassing bathos.
—Miriam Balanescu, IndieWire, 5 Mar. 2026
The curved shadow of the Earth that creeps across the moon during lunar eclipses is key to humankind’s understanding of our planet.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2026
This phase lasts 1 hour, 14 minutes as the deeper shadow creeps across the lunar face.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 19 Feb. 2026
Here, the gentle tide creeps back and forth as a soothing marker of the passing day.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Feb. 2026
Suspicion and shame drenched Hanceville like the fog that creeps down Main Street.
—Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
Mintz agrees that intentional time matters, especially when guilt creeps in.
—Jennifer Jay Palumbo, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
As the 2026 Super Bowl creeps closer and closer, fans have started to make their predictions as to which two teams will play in the big game.
—Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 10 Jan. 2026
Noun
Fear creeps in as cases continue to rise The lack of official narrative may have led local folks to a premature sense of safety, believing that the outbreak had ended even as cases continue to add up.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 23 Mar. 2026
The draft is interesting because there aren’t the top-of-the-board type options like last year (Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren) but the closer late April creeps, the deeper many people believe the tight end crop is on the whole.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 21 Mar. 2026
Jamie doesn’t fully buy it for a bunch of reasons but especially because those two dudes are incredible creeps and one of them tried to coerce Fanny into joining him on the road.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
Ad dollars are crucial as the cost of staging the tournament creeps ever upwards.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 20 Mar. 2026
While the Colts try to navigate what’s already been a newsworthy offseason, especially over the last week, the draft creeps closer.
—James Boyd, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Before the fretting reaches a head, one of Barbieri’s backing oscillators creeps forward into a nimble major-key ostinato that sounds like it was lifted from a Lorenzo Senni daydream, transforming a slight shift in timbre and time signature into a crescendo of new hope.
—Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 2 Mar. 2026
Lunar eclipses happen when the Earth passes directly between the sun and moon, casting a gigantic shadow that creeps across the moon’s surface.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2026
The subtle darkening that creeps across the lunar surface during this phase is incredibly easy to miss, becoming more pronounced as this early stage draws to a close.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Verb
The same game of legislative chicken now starts anew as the calendar creeps toward April.
—Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2026
This time round, though, an unfortunate silliness sometimes creeps in, where the film risks tipping over Shakespearean-size emotions into embarrassing bathos.
—Miriam Balanescu, IndieWire, 5 Mar. 2026
The curved shadow of the Earth that creeps across the moon during lunar eclipses is key to humankind’s understanding of our planet.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2026
This phase lasts 1 hour, 14 minutes as the deeper shadow creeps across the lunar face.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 19 Feb. 2026
Here, the gentle tide creeps back and forth as a soothing marker of the passing day.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Feb. 2026
Suspicion and shame drenched Hanceville like the fog that creeps down Main Street.
—Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
Mintz agrees that intentional time matters, especially when guilt creeps in.
—Jennifer Jay Palumbo, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
As the 2026 Super Bowl creeps closer and closer, fans have started to make their predictions as to which two teams will play in the big game.
—Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 10 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for creeps
Noun
-
In the new sequel, Grace teams with her estranged younger sister, Faith (Kathryn Newton), as they’re hunted by four elite families full of murderous jerks scrambling to become the High Seat of a Council that controls the world.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Smarmy jerks can get obscenely wealthy in this country just by managing other people’s money.—
Gilad Edelman,
The Atlantic,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As the Chinese men shoot the breeze and play cards, a mob of armed white miners gathers over the hill and encroaches on the unsuspecting outsiders.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Cloud Dancer, a white that is both warm and cool, reflects an overwhelmed feeling among consumers as the world feels louder and technology, in particular AI, encroaches further into our lives.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
4 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Dogs run freely in the green meadows and forests, where the smell of cooking fires lingers in the air and cottonwood seeds blanket dirt roads crisscrossing the site.—
Grant Stringer,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Ocean carriers have largely dropped their plans to return to the Red Sea as the conflict lingers.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In the book, Grace drags Rocky back to his part of the ship, exposing himself to the Eridian environment; in the film, Rocky crawls back while Grace is unconscious.—
Matthew Razak,
Space.com,
23 Mar. 2026
-
The Shops at Yale recently announced the return of the New Haven food crawls and have added a date in December, according to a statement.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Transportation Security Administration may have to shut down operations at some airports if the budget impasse drags on, the agency’s acting head said Wednesday, even as record wait times for travelers did little to end the standoff over the funding fight in Congress.—
Kevin Freking,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Taipei is particularly concerned that as the Middle East conflict drags on, American forces are depleting their stockpile of long-range cruise missiles that would be critical to repel a Chinese assault on Taiwan, the Financial Times reported.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In April, ruby-red paintbrush pokes out of the ground, and in late summer, vibrant yellow rabbitbrush flowers join the mix.—
Madison Chapman,
Outside,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The nurturing Moon pokes Mars today, drawing attention to your 2nd House of Objects and your 11th House of Groups.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
To accommodate the mass of passengers, the line snakes through baggage claim and around the terminal.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Miraculously, the line of people that usually snakes down Melrose yearning for a slice of chef Karla Subero Pittol’s passion lime fruit icebox pie is nonexistent today.—
Julissa James,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Tristan returns home and greets James while Siegfried shuffles the woman out the window.—
Alice Burton,
Vulture,
12 Jan. 2026
-
That is not unique — Major League Baseball’s offseason shuffles along at a deliberate pace, just as the Dodgers historically have liked.—
Katie Woo,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Creeps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/creeps. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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