1
as in encroached
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
Relevance
2
as in lingered
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
4
as in dragged
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 crept
The Waffle House waitress said the building’s management was inattentive to a raft of deeper issues, from sewage backups that crept into her bathtub to mold and a malfunctioning air conditioning unit.
—
Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 27 May 2026
At the other end of the spectrum, there were a number of clubs with lower possession numbers who crept into positions higher up the table.
—Jon MacKenzie, New York Times, 27 May 2026
When coupled with a refund, opposition declined even further, falling to 38 percent; support crept into positive territory at 51 percent.
—Joseph Thorndike, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
In darkness, floodwater crept through homes while residents struggled to understand how severe conditions had become.
—Greg Bennett, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 May 2026
Overland Park, Johnson County’s largest city, crept further above 200,000 in 2025, with estimates counting 203,677 people — a nearly 3% increase from 2020’s 197,835 residents.
—Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 22 May 2026
Still, dozens of drivers crept around the lot, hoping to pounce if someone pulled out.
—Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026
Residents at a homeowner association meeting in April questioned how an Iron Mountain data center crept into their backyard unnoticed.
—Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 16 May 2026
In the middle of his soiree, the Spaniard had crept away from the other guests to tell Smit some exciting news.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 27 May 2026
At the other end of the spectrum, there were a number of clubs with lower possession numbers who crept into positions higher up the table.
—Jon MacKenzie, New York Times, 27 May 2026
When coupled with a refund, opposition declined even further, falling to 38 percent; support crept into positive territory at 51 percent.
—Joseph Thorndike, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
In darkness, floodwater crept through homes while residents struggled to understand how severe conditions had become.
—Greg Bennett, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 May 2026
Overland Park, Johnson County’s largest city, crept further above 200,000 in 2025, with estimates counting 203,677 people — a nearly 3% increase from 2020’s 197,835 residents.
—Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 22 May 2026
Still, dozens of drivers crept around the lot, hoping to pounce if someone pulled out.
—Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026
Residents at a homeowner association meeting in April questioned how an Iron Mountain data center crept into their backyard unnoticed.
—Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 16 May 2026
In the middle of his soiree, the Spaniard had crept away from the other guests to tell Smit some exciting news.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crept
Verb
-
Cuba has long defended its decision to shoot down the planes, insisting that Brothers to the Rescue had encroached on the country's sovereignty.—
Joe Walsh,
CBS News,
18 May 2026
-
Most of these settlers farmed, but then the cities of Cleveland and Akron encroached from north and south.—
Robert Annis,
Midwest Living,
16 May 2026
Verb
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Cholowsky and the bat boy lingered in their embrace, clinging to the final remnants of a season neither seemed ready to leave behind.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
1 June 2026
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Amtrak said later Monday the south tunnel was back up and running, but delays lingered at Newark's Penn Station.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
Verb
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He was buried alive on a construction site and then poisoned by a venomous rattlesnake that crawled into his coffin and attacked him.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
The truck driver crawled to the side of the road and the gunman fled.—
Kristi Miller,
Twin Cities,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
Although Schwarze ultimately prevailed, the party’s divisions were on display as the endorsement battle dragged on through six ballots.—
Jay Gabler,
Twin Cities,
30 May 2026
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But as his contentious divorce and custody battle against Jolie dragged on, reports emerged in 2021 that Maddox had testified in the case.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
Verb
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With the squad heavily depleted at the start of pre-season due to the World Cup, a number of decisions regarding loan moves for youngsters are set to be delayed until later in the window.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
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However, opposition to these plans delayed any major activity on the ground till the the late 2000s.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Memory stocks — The chipmaker sell-off extended to memory stocks, which slid for another day.—
Davis Giangiulio,
CNBC,
5 June 2026
-
Sanchez slid into home and the ball appeared to loosen from the glove of Redwood catcher Aubrie Jenkins on a throw from left field by freshman Kyrie Rodriguez based on video replay.—
Ethan Hanson,
Daily News,
4 June 2026
Verb
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But remember, most airlines continue to assign seats throughout the check-in process, and seats might be shuffled by gate agents to accommodate families and other travelers who need special attention.—
Jessica Puckett,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 June 2026
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While many of the brand’s lifestyle models are frequently shuffled in and out of production, the 9060 has held on as a staple of the brand’s lineup nearly four years after its retail debut.—
Riley Jones,
Footwear News,
28 May 2026
Verb
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Even at the height of his fame, there were dubious aspects of his personal life — often self-seeded to sustain his enigma — that poked hellified holes in his impermeability as an entertainer.—
Rodney Carmichael,
NPR,
3 June 2026
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In the roadside planters, green sprouts poked up.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crept.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crept. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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