lurking

verb

present participle of lurk
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

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 Audiences embraced the films for their creeping realism and slow-building scares, which transformed ordinary bedrooms, hallways and home security cameras into places where something terrifying might be lurking just outside the frame. — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026 Filmmaker Bennie Safdie was also seen lurking at the shows with a camera. — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2026 The film, which co-stars Michelle Monaghan and Michael Keaton, taps into primal fears of the unknown and danger lurking in our own backyards. — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026 There are supermassive black holes lurking in the center of almost every large galaxy, scientists have found. — Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026 The steering could communicate more, and the vehicle's substantial mass is always lurking somewhere underneath the otherwise impressive dynamics. — New Atlas, 22 Aug. 2026 What strikes him is that the app users aren't always strangers lurking in the dark corners of the web. — Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026 The idea lurking in the shadows is that rather than just individual characters, actual story arcs from the long saga of the beloved Clone Wars series could be remade or adapted into live-action. — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026 The par-3 sixth hole and the long par-3 16th hole will be key to watch, with big numbers lurking. — Dennis Esser, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lurking
  1. sneaking
  2. hiding
  3. slipping
  4. lying
  5. sliding
Verb
  • Pinch-hitter Eli White followed by sneaking a soft line drive up the middle to drive in Durbin, cutting the Giants’ lead to 2-1.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • While the hot-cold cycles didn’t completely erase the tension of being confined in a car with my kids, sneaking away to the adults-only mineral pools — one enriched with magnesium, another with potassium — was a nice reset.
    — Jamie Siebrase, Denver Post, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of sneaking
Verb
  • Rather than hiding from the toughest challenges, Hill confronted them head-on despite knowingly taking on some short-term pain and cost.
    — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026
  • With that $140, York bought himself a lifetime of punchlines at his expense and, presumably, years of hiding from the spotlight.
    — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of hiding
Verb
  • The body of a woman who rescued a child struggling in the Delaware River in New Jersey before slipping underwater herself has been recovered following an hourslong search, police said.
    — Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Reduce wear time by wearing commuter shoes and slipping into heels once at your destination.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of slipping
Verb
  • In any event, Bret is sufficiently moved to start lying and counting extra votes for Debbie.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Orozco, a deep-lying playmaker, broke into Cali’s first team last season.
    — Andy Naylor, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of lying
Verb
  • The Braves spent their afternoon with Little League baseball players, sliding down hills and laughing alongside children who will remember Sunday for the rest of their lives.
    — Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Defender Kevin O'Toole poked the ball away, but Mboma Dem put away a sliding first-touch shot that opened the scoring in the 11th minute.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of sliding

Browse Nearby Words

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lurking
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Cite this Entry

“Lurking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lurking. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

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