lurked

past tense of lurk
1
as in sneaked
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 hid
to remain out of sight watch out for snakes lurking in the tall grass

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 lurked Former landlords lurked in bushes or on roofs or waited in cars outside our home. — Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026 Danger lurked in the shady groves of avocado trees that stretched on the mountainsides as far as the eye could see. — Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026 Rhetoric that had lurked in conspiracy-minded corners of the internet was now coming from the federal government itself. — Eric Boodman, STAT, 3 Sep. 2026 For years, Cole was mystified by a small, beanlike object with stripes which lurked in the background of certain drawings. — Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026 The city of Atlanta has jurisdiction over Hartsfield-Jackson, but the threat of a state takeover of the world’s busiest airport has lurked in the background of Georgia politics for years. — Tia Mitchell, AJC.com, 5 Aug. 2026 But concerns lurked beneath the surface of an otherwise positive report. — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026 On April 29, the loose body that lurked in the backdrop all along became lodged inside Skubal’s elbow joint in front of the world. — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 22 July 2026 But a trap lurked within that framework. — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 25 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lurked
Verb
  • Ersery, a Ruskin product, snuck out of the KC metro to become an all-Big Ten left tackle for Minnesota.
    — PJ Green September 24, Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Florida snuck by the namesake SEC rival 44-39 in their first meeting since 2019.
    — Noah White, Miami Herald, 20 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • As the Carolina Hurricanes’ Sebastian Aho slipped past the Florida Panthers defense for a breakaway, the Florida Panthers’ new goaltender set up in his crease.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The Latino officers who spoke to The Times said the department has for too long prioritized the promotion of Black members of the force to leadership roles while the representation of Latinos in the highest ranks has slipped.
    — Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The data dump comes after the Conference Board reported yesterday that its Consumer Confidence Index this month slid to its lowest level since 2014.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Despite efforts to create buzz around the Barbie brand — including a diabetes Barbie and an autism Barbie — gross billings for Barbie products slid 11% last year, following a similar decline in 2024.
    — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Lurked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lurked. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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