1
as in to sneak
to move about in a sly or secret manner we caught a glimpse of someone lurking around the corner

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to hide
to remain out of sight watch out for snakes lurking in the tall grass

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word lurk distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of lurk are skulk, slink, and sneak. While all these words mean "to behave so as to escape attention," lurk implies a lying in wait in a place of concealment and often suggests an evil intent.

suspicious men lurking in alleyways

When might skulk be a better fit than lurk?

Although the words skulk and lurk have much in common, skulk suggests more strongly cowardice or fear or sinister intent.

something skulking in the shadows

When is slink a more appropriate choice than lurk?

The words slink and lurk can be used in similar contexts, but slink implies moving stealthily often merely to escape attention.

slunk around the corner

Where would sneak be a reasonable alternative to lurk?

While the synonyms sneak and lurk are close in meaning, sneak may add an implication of entering or leaving a place or evading a difficulty by furtive or underhanded methods.

sneaked out early

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 lurk But as with its aww-shucks hero, there’s more to it than meets the eye; something much stranger lurks behind the slight Twilight Zone unreality of its very movie-ish Midwest. A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025 Some are found lurking in remote corners of the world, while others have been hiding right under our noses. Stories By Real-Time News Team, With Ai Summarization, Miami Herald, 25 Apr. 2025 The caterpillar cloaks itself in the body parts of dead insects, crafting a protective casing out of the remains to camouflage itself while lurking on spider webs. Moná Thomas, People.com, 25 Apr. 2025 The lawsuit alleged Burroughs harassed the couple by showing up to events he wasn’t invited to, lurking outside their room and recording sounds of them in bed. Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 18 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lurk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lurk
Verb
  • The track reenters the Official Singles Sales chart at No. 2 — a brand new high — and also sneaks back onto the main Official Singles list, landing at No. 44.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Two assailants sneaked into a camp of workers building the Z-Morh tunnel (an important highway project) and opened fire at the laborers and engineers.
    Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Unfortunately, the cause of the odor is often hidden.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2025
  • Liv is forced to break up with her human fiancé, Major (Robert Buckley) to avoid infecting him, and becomes estranged from her best friend and roommate Peyton (Aly Michalka), hiding her new zombie nature from both.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 27 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The only ranking where the track slips is the Official Singles Sales chart.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Tokyo's Nikkei 225 jumped 1.9%, while stocks in Shanghai slipped 0.1%.
    Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Pahalgam lies on a major pilgrimage route, known as the Amarnath Yatra, which takes place every year and has been exposed to previous attacks.
    Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2025
  • The answer comes from various reasons, but the most profound is lying right underneath our noses.
    Kevin Reutenauer, Hartford Courant, 23 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Lurk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lurk. Accessed 4 May. 2025.

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