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
as in crawled
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
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 memories of those late-game collapses crept in when the Sabres’ 4-2 lead became 4-3 early in the third period.
—
Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
But, throughout the decades, housing developments crept toward wildlands, the climate warmed, and fires increasingly escalated into unstoppable urban conflagrations.
—Ingfei Chen, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2025
The New York City mayoral race has also crept into the race.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 20 Oct. 2025
Mary Janes have crept back into steady rotation this season.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 18 Oct. 2025
In the quiet of the Sabbath morning when all the neighborhood was wrapped in slumber, some dastardly degenerate crept into the room, choked her to death, assaulted her criminally and left her bruised and bleeding body lying on the bed.
—Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025
But in Wyoming, where the number of men who hunt has crept ever-so-slowly down, participation by women has increased 30 percent in the past 10 years, helping to hold the line.
—Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 16 Oct. 2025
The restaurant also suffered equipment loss as the flooding crept into its basement.
—Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 8 Oct. 2025
But lately, certain relics—tallow, bay rum, horn combs—have crept back in.
—Jennifer Noyes, Air Mail, 4 Oct. 2025
Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
But, throughout the decades, housing developments crept toward wildlands, the climate warmed, and fires increasingly escalated into unstoppable urban conflagrations.
—Ingfei Chen, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2025
The New York City mayoral race has also crept into the race.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 20 Oct. 2025
Mary Janes have crept back into steady rotation this season.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 18 Oct. 2025
In the quiet of the Sabbath morning when all the neighborhood was wrapped in slumber, some dastardly degenerate crept into the room, choked her to death, assaulted her criminally and left her bruised and bleeding body lying on the bed.
—Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025
But in Wyoming, where the number of men who hunt has crept ever-so-slowly down, participation by women has increased 30 percent in the past 10 years, helping to hold the line.
—Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 16 Oct. 2025
The restaurant also suffered equipment loss as the flooding crept into its basement.
—Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 8 Oct. 2025
But lately, certain relics—tallow, bay rum, horn combs—have crept back in.
—Jennifer Noyes, Air Mail, 4 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crept
Verb
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The ads have now encroached into social media without proper disclosures with many online pharmacies not following the same rules that many pharmaceutical companies follow, a senior White House official said.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
9 Sep. 2025
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From the deadly 2025 Los Angeles fires to the devastating 2019-2020 Australian bushfires and the 2018 wildfire in Athens, Greece, flames have increasingly encroached upon human settlements, claiming lives and livelihoods.—
Seyd Teymoor Seydi,
The Conversation,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Some doubts still lingered as to whether Jax was, indeed, Gracie's puppy.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Some people drained their toilet bowls in order to breathe air through the plumbing as the smoke lingered and covered them in yellow soot.—
Julia Coin,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Modern Wall Street has killed just about everything cool that walks or crawled at one time or another.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Oct. 2025
-
The van’s driver then crawled out of his vehicle’s window, crossed over a median and was instantly struck by a car speeding in the opposite direction, which was broadcast by the news helicopter following the chase.—
Brian Niemietz,
Mercury News,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Stephens said there were signs of a struggle, and Thomas' body had been dragged about 180 feet into the woods.—
Bill Bowden,
Arkansas Online,
24 Oct. 2025
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Whether the week dragged or flew by, the weekend has arrived — and so have a host of events across the Sacramento region, from family outings and concerts to high school football and college sports.—
Marcus Smith,
Sacbee.com,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Two out of three lanes are closed and traffic is delayed on the inner loop of Interstate 485 in northwest Charlotte after a tractor trailer overturned Tuesday morning.—
Jeff A. Chamer,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Oct. 2025
-
What Happens Next The longer the government shutdown takes to resolve, the more likely additional programs could be impacted and delayed, according to Newsom’s office.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The biopharmaceutical stock slid more than 5%.—
Scott Schnipper,
CNBC,
20 Oct. 2025
-
The broken glass happened because Mako couldn't stop himself while running on the hardwood floor and slid into the cabinet.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The most interesting part about this week two lineup is seeing how the songs shuffled around a bit.—
Katie Atkinson,
Billboard,
21 Oct. 2025
-
The doctor grunted, shuffled off.—
Sam Lipsyte,
New Yorker,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Aeration is the process of creating air spaces in a lawn, usually via 3-inch holes poked into the soil at regular intervals.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Oct. 2025
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Several poked fun at the moment through lighthearted comments, while others expressed how their own canines also like to fill their days with an abundance of naps.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Crept.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crept. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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