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 Every facet of India’s topography, from lush grasslands filled with antelopes to gnarled forests with tigers and evil spirits lurking around every corner, is on full display. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 30 Oct. 2026 The Beast, or some Beast-like relative, also has been seen in Milwaukee, outside a Kentucky Fried Chicken in Lake Geneva and, across the state line, in Antioch, Galena and lurking near the Great Lakes Naval Station in Lake County. — Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026 The creepy creatures lurking on front lawns this Halloween season might just owe their frightful flair to a Charlotte resident. — Charlotte Observer, 28 Oct. 2026 Clarke and Henrik Stenson appeared to be in a two-man race, with Mario Tiziani lurking, until none could keep with Sabbatini and his explosive final round. — ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026 The Atlas Group primed viewers to read his documents as unstable, but the later work asks them to contend with shrunken objects, resurrected paintings, and vampires lurking in the archive. — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 25 Oct. 2026 But with danger lurking around every corner, has the Duke’s unchecked ambition finally gone too far? — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2026 Thankfully, there was nothing other than a funky DIY project lurking in the distance. — Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026 Unfortunately not, because another issue is lurking around the corner. — Philipp Strasberg, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lurking
  1. sneaking
  2. hiding
  3. slipping
  4. lying
  5. sliding
Verb
  • Bus noise was a similar story, with the low engine rumble handled well and only some of the higher-frequency intermittent sounds sneaking through.
    — Christian de Looper, PC Magazine, 26 Oct. 2026
  • For a solid thirty minutes, the candidates defended their honor as the race’s most pro-Israel candidate — at times sneaking in jabs about their opponent.
    — Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of sneaking
Verb
  • Rice takes curious young readers on a tour of the natural world that’s hiding in plain sight, focusing on the ways that plants and animals communicate and connect.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Nov. 2026
  • February 19 – March 20 An annoying little problem could be hiding a surprisingly easy fix.
    — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of hiding
Verb
  • Joggers Who doesn’t love slipping into sweatpants on crisp fall days?
    — Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The album’s experimental bent is also what keeps the music from slipping into parody or, even worse, po-faced sincerity.
    — Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of slipping
Verb
  • Mary is lying on the cloth and turning to cradle Jesus, who is lying next to her.
    — Artforum, Artforum, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The race grabbed headlines in recent weeks when Ramaswamy's campaign released an ad featuring Acton's estranged mother, who accused her daughter of lying about her childhood.
    — Ian McKinney, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of lying
Verb
  • Coinbase — The cryptocurrency exchange's stock rallied 8% Tuesday after sliding 15% in the three trading days through Monday.
    — Ananya Chetia, CNBC, 3 Nov. 2026
  • New England started the second half better, and Peyton Miller set up its go-ahead goal brilliantly, beating Gonzalo Lujan on the dribble to get around the right corner and into the penalty area before sliding a pass toward the penalty spot.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of sliding

Browse Nearby Words

lurkers
lurking
lurks
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Cite this Entry

“Lurking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lurking. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

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