creepy

adjective

ˈkrē-pē How to pronounce creepy (audio)
creepier; creepiest
Synonyms of creepy
1
: producing a nervous shivery apprehension
a creepy horror story
also : eerie
2
: of, relating to, or being a creep : annoyingly unpleasant
a creepy old man
creepily
ˈkrē-pə-lē How to pronounce creepy (audio)
adverb
creepiness
ˈkrē-pē-nəs How to pronounce creepy (audio)
noun

Synonyms of creepy

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Examples of creepy in a Sentence

There's something creepy about that guy. a fascinating but creepy stage show by an offbeat magician
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
There’s something inherently comical about this insistent, creepy overfamiliarity. — Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2026 Dispose of Fall Decorations Seasonal decor like pumpkins and gourds also unintentionally invite an infestation of creepy crawlers. — Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 16 Oct. 2026 In Meta’s case, creepy video-recording incidents and privacy-light tampering have caused severe headaches for the company. — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026 What are young female comedy fans today learning from Gillis’s set, other than that their bodies constitute some kind of terrible inconvenience to the creepy men who want to ogle them? — Emma Specter, Vogue, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for creepy

Word History

Etymology

see creep entry 1

First Known Use

1836, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of creepy was in 1836

Phrases Containing creepy

Rhymes for creepy

See All Rhymes for creepy

Browse Nearby Words

creep up on
creepy
creepy-crawly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Creepy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/creepy. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

creepy

adjective
ˈkrē-pē How to pronounce creepy (audio)
creepier; creepiest
: having or producing a sensation as of insects creeping on the skin
especially : eerie
creepily
-pə-lē How to pronounce creepy (audio)
adverb
creepiness noun
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