1
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
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2
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
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Recent Examples of lurking
Produced by Heavy Lifting Productions in association with 3 Arts Entertainment, Knighted follows a missing person’s case that spirals into an absurd documentary-style exploration of the sinister secrets lurking beneath the enchanting pageantry of a local medieval dinner theatre.
—
Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 11 June 2026
The evil is always lurking, waiting to take over, even in a place like Israel.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 11 June 2026
Feelings of sadness and fear of rejection manifest as monsters lurking in the dark, while moments of joy take the form of bright skies.
—Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 10 June 2026
Steve Schmidt, Amazon’s chief security officer, told Fortune that Mythos not only helps to patch individual bugs but also helps to permanently close whole classes of weaknesses that have been lurking in their systems.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 9 June 2026
Nor is SpaceX the only mega-IPO lurking on the horizon.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
Roynon explains that color can lift good feng shui energy and mute any negative energy that may be lurking around.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 June 2026
But lurking in the grasslands and forest clearings of at least two southeastern counties is a scaly intruder that state wildlife officials say poses a serious threat to native animals and crops alike.
—Christopher Harris, CBS News, 4 June 2026
Much of the original film’s influence on the show is thematic, with the series conveying the same sense of dread lurking below a cartoonishly perfect suburban cul-de-sac.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 4 June 2026
Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 11 June 2026
The evil is always lurking, waiting to take over, even in a place like Israel.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 11 June 2026
Feelings of sadness and fear of rejection manifest as monsters lurking in the dark, while moments of joy take the form of bright skies.
—Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 10 June 2026
Steve Schmidt, Amazon’s chief security officer, told Fortune that Mythos not only helps to patch individual bugs but also helps to permanently close whole classes of weaknesses that have been lurking in their systems.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 9 June 2026
Nor is SpaceX the only mega-IPO lurking on the horizon.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
Roynon explains that color can lift good feng shui energy and mute any negative energy that may be lurking around.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 June 2026
But lurking in the grasslands and forest clearings of at least two southeastern counties is a scaly intruder that state wildlife officials say poses a serious threat to native animals and crops alike.
—Christopher Harris, CBS News, 4 June 2026
Much of the original film’s influence on the show is thematic, with the series conveying the same sense of dread lurking below a cartoonishly perfect suburban cul-de-sac.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 4 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lurking
Verb
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Despite the cheer from their family and friends, Emma is seen looking deeply unhappy in her wedding dress and sneaking into an office to drink liquor straight from the bottle, while Charlie loses composure during a meeting, throwing files to the ground in a fit of rage.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Dec. 2025
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The show tackled serious themes like class, anxiety, mental health, and colorism, while still sneaking in moments of joy and nostalgia.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
10 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Officials found three passengers in the cabin and their suspect hiding in the lavatory, Bali immigration authorities said in a statement.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
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The platforms that win will be the ones enabling accountable data access and transparent decision-making, not those hiding behind complexity.—
Ivan Guzenko,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Imagine a huge scorpion the size of a baseball bat, scrambling over mossy rocks and around large, treelike structures before slipping into a nearby stream.—
Shraddha Chakradhar,
CNN Money,
10 June 2026
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And then there were celebration performances for The Book of Mormon (15th anniversary) and Chicago (30th anniversary), with stars from the past slipping back into their old roles.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 June 2026
Verb
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Investigators found Fite lying next to a gas pump with a gunshot wound to the head, Faherty said.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
11 June 2026
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Speaking to local media at the time, Allman denied the ads were his, accusing his opponent of lying and suggesting evidence submitted to regulators had been faked.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Hydroplaning happens when a vehicle starts sliding uncontrollably on wet roads.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
12 June 2026
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The main event, though, is the ski room—where ski butlers furnish guests with state-of-the-art skis before sliding them onto the slicked Jardin Alpin piste with or without an instructor.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lurking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lurking. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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