creeps 1 of 2

plural of creep

creeps

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of creep
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
3
as in snakes
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 creeps
Noun
The drawstring detailing along the bottom ensures no cold air creeps in, while the roomy fit allows for plenty of layering. Melony Forcier, Travel + Leisure, 10 Oct. 2025 As the younger generation moves out and development creeps into Nepal’s Mustang District, an old way of life is in danger of dying out. Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2025 Then, a black bear creeps in through the brush and begins tugging, pulling, and sinking its two-inch teeth into the carcass. Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 8 Oct. 2025 The atmosphere of a Gothic novel creeps over you; encroaching mist along the outcroppings. Leanna Renee Hieber, Big Think, 2 Oct. 2025 So if rain piles up on your street and creeps under your door, a situation that is happening more frequently in Florida due to climate change, normal home insurance will not cover that claim. Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025 Once the familiar franchise fog creeps into town, a wave of red spider lilies crashes behind it, warping Ebisugaoka and its inhabitants with a sickly red and pink glow. Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025 With my combination skin, shine always creeps in after a few hours. Lily Wohlner, Allure, 19 Sep. 2025 As fall creeps into Middle Tennessee, critters of all shapes and sizes will also be on the move — including spiders. Rachel Wegner, Nashville Tennessean, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
Meyers will continue being a name to watch as the deadline creeps closer. Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025 The Japanese influence creeps in again with a matcha white chocolate chip cookie. Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Sep. 2025 Employees notice the waves of shiny experiments that come and go (with no momentum), and cynicism creeps in. Aditya Vikram Kashyap, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025 Bias also creeps into the data used to train these algorithms, for example when the composition of teams that guide the development of such facial recognition software lack diversity. Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for creeps
Noun
  • The sequel sees Odenkirk’s Hutch Mansell attempt to take a family vacation, only to cross paths with violent jerks played by Colin Hanks and Sharon Stone.
    Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025
  • The mechanism feels smooth and sturdy—no awkward jerks or wobbles.
    Zoë Sessums, Architectural Digest, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Apparently, our west block wall encroaches six feet into our neighbor’s back yard, which includes our swimming pool motor and related equipment.
    Christopher A. Combs, AZCentral.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • While a new generation of young singer-songwriters encroaches on country music’s old guard by the day, the Texas barnstormer has found his footing with a fan base hell-bent on capturing every moment Myers affords them.
    Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Strong, prolonged damaging wind gusts of 40 to 55 mph will continue to lash the coast as the storm crawls north through Monday.
    Dakin Andone, CNN Money, 12 Oct. 2025
  • Chalamet crawls out of the weird-for-the-sake-of-being-weird chamber and chucks the helmet to the ground, displaying his now shaven head.
    Marci Robin, Allure, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The campers and counselors died after torrential rain forced water levels on the river, which snakes through multiple summer camps in the region, to rise from 3 feet to 30 feet in a matter of hours.
    Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2025
  • The district snakes through southeast Texas from the border near Hidalgo − through Pulido's native Edinburg − and northward up around Corpus Christi, where the Tejano singer Selena has her roots.
    Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The 20-second clip, apparently captured by a doorbell camera, shows the woman screaming for help as a man drags her away from near the front door of a residence.
    Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
  • As the federal government shut-down drags on, so does the misery for passengers flying in to or out of Charlotte’s airport — flight delays here are approaching 2,000 since last week.
    Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Who else pokes holes in this claim?
    U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Later in the episode, Kelce's cohost and brother, Jason Kelce, pokes fun at Lively's athleticism in a storyline that sees Bridget attend a soccer camp.
    Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Los Gatos slides in after beating Milpitas.
    Christian Babcock, Mercury News, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Just tap your choice and the automatic lowering system slides your bread into the toaster slots.
    Nora Colomer may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Gakpo is deeper, and Wirtz pushes forward as the central member of Liverpool’s forward line, while Ekitike shuffles across as the left of the trio.
    Mark Carey, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Because global air travel shuffles millions of people around the world daily, an outbreak of a very contagious disease anywhere can become a threat everywhere.
    Amy E. Stambach, The Conversation, 12 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Creeps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/creeps. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

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