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
Their debut album, Forever, sounds like temporarily regressing to your childhood self while tripping—a kind of gleaming innocence desperately fending off the darkness of adulthood lurking at the periphery.
—
Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 6 Nov. 2025
The Longhorns, Sooners, Miami and USC are among some of the higher-profile teams lurking on the fringe of the bracket, while schools such as Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt and Utah could still find a way to crash the party.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 6 Nov. 2025
But as old tensions flare between them, Katie begins to experience terrifying visions and a ghostly presence warning of something sinister lurking aboard.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025
Footage of the incident shows the mountain lion — the species also known as a cougar, puma or panther — lurking in some brush at the Orange County park, peeking its face tentatively from a spot behind some leaves.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
Cincinnati is lurking at 5-1 in the Big 12 standings, but confidence in the Bearcats is wavering after a 31-point loss at Utah on Saturday.
—Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
That includes hackers lurking on public Wi-Fi, your internet service provider, or even an overreaching advertiser trying to build a profile on you.
—Ken Colburn, AZCentral.com, 3 Nov. 2025
Some are found lurking in remote corners of the world, while others have been hiding right under our noses.
—Real-Time News Team, Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025
Freddy Krueger, still lurking on Elm Street, sees a vulnerable young man in the form of Jesse, played by Mark Patton.
—Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 31 Oct. 2025
Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 6 Nov. 2025
The Longhorns, Sooners, Miami and USC are among some of the higher-profile teams lurking on the fringe of the bracket, while schools such as Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt and Utah could still find a way to crash the party.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 6 Nov. 2025
But as old tensions flare between them, Katie begins to experience terrifying visions and a ghostly presence warning of something sinister lurking aboard.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025
Footage of the incident shows the mountain lion — the species also known as a cougar, puma or panther — lurking in some brush at the Orange County park, peeking its face tentatively from a spot behind some leaves.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
Cincinnati is lurking at 5-1 in the Big 12 standings, but confidence in the Bearcats is wavering after a 31-point loss at Utah on Saturday.
—Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
That includes hackers lurking on public Wi-Fi, your internet service provider, or even an overreaching advertiser trying to build a profile on you.
—Ken Colburn, AZCentral.com, 3 Nov. 2025
Some are found lurking in remote corners of the world, while others have been hiding right under our noses.
—Real-Time News Team, Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025
Freddy Krueger, still lurking on Elm Street, sees a vulnerable young man in the form of Jesse, played by Mark Patton.
—Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 31 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lurking
Verb
-
Loomer started sneaking into her fund-raisers.—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
-
The shoe’s hook-and-loop closure is another standout feature that keeps feet securely in place and prevents cold air from sneaking in.—
Melony Forcier,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
This mismatch between perception and reality has real consequences, fueling the notion that higher education as a whole is elitist and out of touch, hiding the work of the colleges that educate millions of working- and middle-class families.—
Yolanda Watson Spiva,
Fortune,
8 Nov. 2025
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Then keep scrolling to shop more of the best pieces hiding in Pottery Barn’s outlet now.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The program’s pulse felt faint, its identity slipping further with each loss.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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The Buffs dropped their third game in a row at Milan Puskar Stadium, falling 29-22 against the Mountaineers and slipping to 3-7 on a lost season.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The defining image of this exact fixture back in February was Szoboszlai lying face-down on the pitch at full time of Liverpool’s 2-0 away win, utterly spent.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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But in 1991, federal agents charged him with lying and continuing to traffic drugs.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Hydroplaning is the term for when a vehicle begins sliding uncontrollably on wet roads.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Nov. 2025
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Or are the Seminoles at risk of sliding into irrelevance if trips to the Gator Bowl become acceptable?—
Matt Baker,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lurking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lurking. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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