LURKING Synonyms: 33 Similar and Opposite Words

lurking

verb

present participle of lurk

as in sneaking

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in hiding

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 lurking Messi, Mbappe and Kane will battle for this award, although Dembele is lurking, too. — Matt Slater, New York Times, 29 June 2026 The ballista spider spends its days lurking in webs on the undersides of leaves in the rainforests of north Queensland, Australia. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 6 July 2026 As beachgoers flock to water during the busy July Fourth weekend, danger could be lurking in some areas. — Stephanie Armour, CBS News, 1 July 2026 Finally, book eleven, Bernard Malmud’s The Fixer, was found lurking on a twelfth-grade syllabus. — Literary Hub, 25 June 2026 To figure out why, an international team investigated the proteins lurking inside of the skeletal remains. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 24 June 2026 Unbeknownst to its more than 800 members, Flod had been lurking in the public group for years, silently celebrating each new mention of Pinky. — Ryan Steven Green, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026 On his Instagram, happy photos of his family living the American dream are interspersed with violent admonitions about the forces lurking in his own community and seeking to destroy him. — Christopher Hooks, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026 But after his imprisonment, Lilburne’s Proposition became the defining cause of the radical Leveller movement, which subsequently dedicated itself to unlocking all of the revolutionary possibilities lurking in the word equal. — Teresa M. Bejan, The Atlantic, 3 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lurking

Verb

Just a few weeks into the war, one of the Persian Gulf’s top oil producers quietly began sneaking its crude out of the Strait of Hormuz.

— Weilun Soon, Fortune, 5 July 2026
But neither those measures nor Friday’s sizzling temperatures stopped fans from gathering in hopes of sneaking a peak at their longtime idol and sending Swift their well wishes.

— Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026

Definition of sneaking

Verb

Failing to disclose or intentionally hiding assets can make a prenup more vulnerable to being challenged in court.

— Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 6 July 2026
The find suggests one of NASA’s most successful planet hunters may still have plenty of surprises hiding in its archives.

— Sam Macdonald, Scientific American, 6 July 2026

Definition of hiding

Verb

In its latest trends report, Embark says September is pacing ahead of last year in Europe, while July is slipping—the first time that has happened in the company's history.

— Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Cleveland is probably most at risk of slipping toward the sell side, but the Guardians have made the playoffs two years in a row and have stayed in playoff contention these past three months.

— Tim Britton, New York Times, 1 July 2026

Definition of slipping

Verb

Locally heavy rain will quickly reduce visibility and result in ponding of water on roadways, standing water in low lying areas, and minor flooding of creeks, streams, and areas of poor drainage.

— NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 8 July 2026
This exercise is also performed from a lying-down position and will help build strength and stability in your glutes and hips.

— Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 7 July 2026

Definition of lying

Verb

The sequence started with Bosnian defender Stjepan Radeljic sliding in front of a Tillman pass, deflecting it forward toward Muharemovic.

— Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Some providers might work on a sliding fee scale, for example, which adjusts cost based on a patient’s household income and family size.

— Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026

Definition of sliding

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lurking

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Style

“Lurking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lurking. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of lurking

verb

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