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
Devika Rao, TheWeek, 23 Jan. 2026
The opposite happens in the Southern Hemisphere, when the polar vortex around Antarctica creeps northward.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 21 Jan. 2026
Artemis 2 rocket creeps along toward launch pad NASA's Artemis 2 moon rocket, the second-ever Space Launch System booster, is slowly making progress along the 4-mile journey to its Florida pad at Launch Complex 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
—Tariq Malik, Space.com, 17 Jan. 2026
Similar risks are faced by dishwashers that are fed by open pipes, especially when ice creeps into garages or bare utility areas.
—Connie Etemadi, Freep.com, 17 Jan. 2026
The applause for blocks, leaves and singles gets louder and meatier as England’s target creeps under 100, but Jacks’ dismissal with 97 still required ends any realistic hope of the unlikeliest of away victories.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2025
The days when self-blame creeps back in are less frequent now.
—Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 29 Nov. 2025
Keep in mind also that after Mike warns Kyle that his next-door neighbor in AdSeg is one of the most perniciously manipulative creeps Mike has ever known, Kyle still seems inclined to listen to what Merle has to say.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 23 Nov. 2025
Meanwhile, the impacts of the impasse continue to spread, from millions at risk of losing their government assistance and going hungry to massive air-traffic interruptions as winter creeps in just two weeks before the Thanksgiving holiday.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 11 Nov. 2025
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
Each 40-ish minute episode following the premiere delivers diminishing returns, Elba can only beg people to listen to him so many times before growing monotonous, and when the train creeps to a polite stop at its final destination, there’s little suspense to the resolution and even less sense.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 14 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
Move too far away from it and the outside chill creeps in.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 23 Dec. 2025
Depop determined that, as decision fatigue creeps into even the act of getting dressed, reliable replicas (think tailored trousers, sharp outerwear, crisp button-downs) will become the backbone of Gen Z wardrobes.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 22 Dec. 2025
And as the player progresses, the game skillfully creeps towards horror, creating a growing sense of unease as the end of summer approaches and one of the girls shows signs of an intense, potentially deadly rage she’s kept just below the surface.
—Richard Newby, Time, 6 Dec. 2025
As winter weather creeps in, several road construction projects around Milwaukee are set to pause until spring.
—Cailey Gleeson, jsonline.com, 17 Nov. 2025
Noun
Salty water creeps into aquifers near the coast.
—Devika Rao, TheWeek, 23 Jan. 2026
The opposite happens in the Southern Hemisphere, when the polar vortex around Antarctica creeps northward.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 21 Jan. 2026
Artemis 2 rocket creeps along toward launch pad NASA's Artemis 2 moon rocket, the second-ever Space Launch System booster, is slowly making progress along the 4-mile journey to its Florida pad at Launch Complex 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
—Tariq Malik, Space.com, 17 Jan. 2026
Similar risks are faced by dishwashers that are fed by open pipes, especially when ice creeps into garages or bare utility areas.
—Connie Etemadi, Freep.com, 17 Jan. 2026
The applause for blocks, leaves and singles gets louder and meatier as England’s target creeps under 100, but Jacks’ dismissal with 97 still required ends any realistic hope of the unlikeliest of away victories.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2025
The days when self-blame creeps back in are less frequent now.
—Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 29 Nov. 2025
Keep in mind also that after Mike warns Kyle that his next-door neighbor in AdSeg is one of the most perniciously manipulative creeps Mike has ever known, Kyle still seems inclined to listen to what Merle has to say.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 23 Nov. 2025
Meanwhile, the impacts of the impasse continue to spread, from millions at risk of losing their government assistance and going hungry to massive air-traffic interruptions as winter creeps in just two weeks before the Thanksgiving holiday.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 11 Nov. 2025
Verb
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
Each 40-ish minute episode following the premiere delivers diminishing returns, Elba can only beg people to listen to him so many times before growing monotonous, and when the train creeps to a polite stop at its final destination, there’s little suspense to the resolution and even less sense.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 14 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
Move too far away from it and the outside chill creeps in.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 23 Dec. 2025
Depop determined that, as decision fatigue creeps into even the act of getting dressed, reliable replicas (think tailored trousers, sharp outerwear, crisp button-downs) will become the backbone of Gen Z wardrobes.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 22 Dec. 2025
And as the player progresses, the game skillfully creeps towards horror, creating a growing sense of unease as the end of summer approaches and one of the girls shows signs of an intense, potentially deadly rage she’s kept just below the surface.
—Richard Newby, Time, 6 Dec. 2025
As winter weather creeps in, several road construction projects around Milwaukee are set to pause until spring.
—Cailey Gleeson, jsonline.com, 17 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for creeps
Noun
-
Smarmy jerks can get obscenely wealthy in this country just by managing other people’s money.—
Gilad Edelman,
The Atlantic,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Moreover, where most clients are great, some are jerks.—
Kathy Kristof,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Jan. 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
-
No screens, no distractions—only the kind of presence that lingers long after the vows are spoken.—
Nikita Khanna,
Vogue,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Measles also lingers in rooms longer than many other diseases, Weber added.—
Mary Ramsey,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As with aftermarket switchable sway bar systems, drivers can lock the sway bars in place for better handling and stability at speed and unlock them completely for maximum articulation during bumpy rock crawls.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Ma crawls toward you and plants her palms on your cheeks.—
Molly Aitken,
New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
And when the failure drags on long enough, extreme partisanship rushes in to fill it.—
Melissa Derosa,
New York Daily News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
But the process often drags on for years, with a slim success rate.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Amazon also strikes a nerve with an ad starring Chris Hemsworth that pokes fun of people’s fears of AI.—
Dee-Ann Durbin,
Fortune,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Cucurella lands on the rebound and pokes in.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
From the mouth of Lake of the Woods, the Warroad River snakes through the middle of the city limits, a few blocks from the headquarters of Marvin Windows and Doors, the employer as synonymous with the town as the sport of hockey.—
Dave Campbell,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The dining room features a sprawling chandelier that snakes its way across the ceiling.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 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 18 Feb. 2026.
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