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
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
The sun shines brighter over Madison Square Garden these days, especially during the playoffs, when long-dormant expectation creeps back in.
—Tom Kludt, Vanity Fair, 17 Feb. 2026
As cancer creeps into younger and younger people's lives, few roadmaps exist for how to proceed.
—David Oliver, USA Today, 15 Feb. 2026
Here, the joyous and the boisterous contrast the dark and insidious, allowing viewers to both be delighted by colorful street scenes and celebrations while the rot of fear creeps in, as the details surrounding our main character (Wagner Moura) and his predicament are revealed.
—Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026
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
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
Move too far away from it and the outside chill creeps in.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 23 Dec. 2025
Noun
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
The sun shines brighter over Madison Square Garden these days, especially during the playoffs, when long-dormant expectation creeps back in.
—Tom Kludt, Vanity Fair, 17 Feb. 2026
As cancer creeps into younger and younger people's lives, few roadmaps exist for how to proceed.
—David Oliver, USA Today, 15 Feb. 2026
Here, the joyous and the boisterous contrast the dark and insidious, allowing viewers to both be delighted by colorful street scenes and celebrations while the rot of fear creeps in, as the details surrounding our main character (Wagner Moura) and his predicament are revealed.
—Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026
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
Verb
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
Move too far away from it and the outside chill creeps in.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 23 Dec. 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
-
This is where Vietnam Syndrome still lingers — not as a slogan, but as a mindset.—
Ken Toltz,
Denver Post,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Inflation lingers as gas prices fall While some measures of inflation have cooled in recent months, the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure has been stuck at about 3% for roughly a year.—
Christopher Rugaber,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
As the Bay Area slowly — some might say glacially — crawls into spring, there’s nothing better than sipping a hot cup of tea or coffee to warm yourself up.—
Kate Bradshaw,
Mercury News,
25 Feb. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
The attacks on Iran have already sent US gasoline prices higher, and will likely continue to climb as the war drags on.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
4 Mar. 2026
-
That's straining operating costs and ticket prices, both of which could become more expensive if airlines have to pay more for fuel the longer the war drags on.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Williams pokes a single into the right field gap for an RBI.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
6 Mar. 2026
-
One TikTok video with over 949,000 likes pokes fun at Kempczinski's review by using similar wording to judge other McDonald's items.—
Ramon Padilla,
USA Today,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In southwest Russia, where the border with eastern Ukraine snakes down to the Sea of Azov, lies the city of Rostov-on-Don, which serves as the headquarters of Russia’s Southern Military District.—
Sophie Spiegelberger,
New Yorker,
24 Feb. 2026
-
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
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 10 Mar. 2026.
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