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 Some are found lurking in remote corners of the world, while others have been hiding right under our noses. Real-Time News Team, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2025 But there is something else lurking under the earth — a race of monstrous humanoid creatures that have adapted perfectly to life in the dark. Caitlin White, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025 In short, even with risk lurking just around the corner, the economic incentives have yet aligned clearly for many companies, individuals, and municipalities. Justin Worland, Time, 3 Oct. 2025 The terrain was steep and mountainous, the forests were thick, and threats from buffalo and leopards lurked in the wilderness. Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 1 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lurk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lurk
Verb
  • New ones pop up every week, and old ones often sneak your data back in.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2025
  • That may open the door to Arseny Gritsyuk sneaking into the top nine after a strong training camp.
    The Athletic NHL, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • In addition to being faster and scalable, fiber doesn’t hide metals worth extracting and reselling.
    Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Turns out, Kelce was hiding more than just nerves.
    Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Currently, Wisconsin law limits only delta-9 THC, allowing other intoxicating compounds to slip through the cracks.
    Gina Lee Castro, jsonline.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Ferrari is currently battling for the second spot in the Constructors' Championship with Red Bull and Mercedes, after slipping to third.
    Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Zubimendi being the deeper-lying player in these situations does seem to be the more important part of the puzzle, with his vision and passing ability key to moving the ball forward.
    Art de Roché, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Beneath Nkrumah’s elaborate rhetoric, Mazrui argued, lay a simple drive to consolidate control through a one-party state that would inevitably empower only his most loyal—and least thoughtful—allies.
    Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Lurk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lurk. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

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