as in huddling
to lie low with the limbs close to the body
the cat crouched in the bushes, waiting for the right moment to pounce on the chipmunk
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of crouching
The study team investigated 54 crouching burials that had previously been found at 11 archaeological sites.
—
Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2025
The animatronic Death Eater crouching on a bookshelf casts a spell, then Dolores Umbridge appears on a screen, then a rhinoceros-like Erumpent tries to gore the riders with its horn.
—Bianca Bosker, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2025
Joining the two this year is a 5-foot pussycat, which comes poised to pounce in a crouching position with adjustable glowing eyes.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2025
In footage shared by the AP, the leopard was seen crouching on the ground next to the boy's vehicle before chasing the car and leaping at the window.
—Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Even crouching behind the catcher at home plate came with a series of details for students to master.
—Becky Sullivan, NPR, 13 Aug. 2025
Excavations unearthed priceless statues and reliefs, including depictions of crouching lions and a youthful male figure.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 14 Dec. 2024
This may include defensive movements or acting submissively—tucking their tail between their legs, lowering their eyes or crouching to appear smaller.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
At last month’s hearing, prosecutors played surveillance footage from Mullins’ chambers that appeared to show the judge crouching behind his desk as a man identified as Stines shoots him multiple times.
—Dakin Andone, CNN, 25 Nov. 2024
Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2025
The animatronic Death Eater crouching on a bookshelf casts a spell, then Dolores Umbridge appears on a screen, then a rhinoceros-like Erumpent tries to gore the riders with its horn.
—Bianca Bosker, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2025
Joining the two this year is a 5-foot pussycat, which comes poised to pounce in a crouching position with adjustable glowing eyes.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2025
In footage shared by the AP, the leopard was seen crouching on the ground next to the boy's vehicle before chasing the car and leaping at the window.
—Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Even crouching behind the catcher at home plate came with a series of details for students to master.
—Becky Sullivan, NPR, 13 Aug. 2025
Excavations unearthed priceless statues and reliefs, including depictions of crouching lions and a youthful male figure.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 14 Dec. 2024
This may include defensive movements or acting submissively—tucking their tail between their legs, lowering their eyes or crouching to appear smaller.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
At last month’s hearing, prosecutors played surveillance footage from Mullins’ chambers that appeared to show the judge crouching behind his desk as a man identified as Stines shoots him multiple times.
—Dakin Andone, CNN, 25 Nov. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crouching
Verb
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More than 3,200 young Nepalis are currently huddling in an online discussion on social media messaging platform Discord to debate who will officially take part in the talks and what issues will be discussed.—
Sonal Nain,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
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Videos circulating online showed the gruesome scene as Kirk slumped over, and people ducked to the ground before running away and huddling in nearby buildings.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Your back hurts from hunching over your laptop.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Study scope and main findings The researchers examined dozens of pre-Neolithic burials in which skeletons were placed in tightly crouched or squatting positions and, in many cases, showed patches of burning.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Sep. 2025
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While squatting weight in high school gym class, Welch, 18, felt his right knee become uncomfortable.—
Angelina Liu,
People.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Crouching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crouching. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
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