crawl 1 of 2

verb

ˈkrȯl How to pronounce crawl (audio)
Definition of crawlnext
1
as in to creep
to move slowly with the body close to the ground the time we had to crawl through a narrow passageway from one cave to another

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to drag
to move slowly the weekend traffic on the road to the beach just crawled

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to delay
to move or act slowly the deadline is fast approaching, so this is no time to crawl

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to burst
to be copiously supplied something must be up, as city hall is crawling with reporters

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

crawl

2 of 2

noun

as in delay

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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 crawl
Verb
The other new release is a dungeon-crawling RPG called Gloom Gate. — Andrew Webster, The Verge, 9 Oct. 2026 In real-world tests, the hand crawled across 14 different surfaces including smooth floors, metal grates, grass, and gravel. — Edd Gent, IEEE Spectrum, 8 Oct. 2026
Noun
The park on the first block would feature various terraces, a boulder crawl, a plaza area, a picnic area, a nature play area, swings and other features. — Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026 In May, Trooper Teddy Henderson rammed a vehicle off Arkansas 118 in Mississippi County and was surprised to see a 3-year-old toddler crawl out of the wreckage, unharmed. — Grant Lancaster, Arkansas Online, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for crawl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crawl
  1. creep
  2. drag
  3. delay
  4. burst
  5. traffic
  6. snake
  7. poke
  8. linger
Verb
  • Europe has crept back on the scene in a real negative way, this time with France on the hot seat.
    — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The aberrant digit only crept in because Ford owned the rights to Model E and wasn’t interested in selling.
    — Jason Barlow, Robb Report, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of creep
Verb
  • Dozens of locations in the central and southern US will soar to record high temperatures on Tuesday, but the incoming front will drag those highs down by more than 30 degrees in many locales by Friday or Saturday.
    — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026
  • As the comet rotates, fresh ice enters the sunlight and sublimates; the escaping gas then drags entrained dust particles away from the nucleus.
    — Joe Rao, Space.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of drag
Verb
  • More than 350 flights were canceled or delayed at Moscow airports, local media reported, as planes were grounded in response to incoming drones.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Green denied that characterization and declined to elaborate on the challenges that delayed the delivery beyond the missing money.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of delay
Verb
  • But on Monday, Broadcom CEO Hock Tan likened many of the investors drawn to the AI boom to gamblers and questioned the economics of AI labs as Wall Street debates whether the AI bubble will burst.
    — Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Seven months after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, explosions burst through two Nord Stream gas pipelines – Russia’s controversial gas highway into Europe – in the waters between Sweden and Poland.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of burst
Noun
  • With Tar & Roses’ proximity to the Santa Monica Mountains, Kirschner said the Palisades fires also led to a sustained drop in restaurant traffic.
    — Melody Xu, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The aforementioned 3-terabyte attack evolved continuously, from multiple vectors, with shifting techniques and waves of traffic.
    — Carlos Morales, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of traffic
Verb
  • After practice, the guard was seen with kinesiology tape snaking up his right calf while working on the court with assistant coaches.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Long lines of vehicles snaked outside gas stations across Indonesia’s resort island of Bali this week after fuel deliveries were disrupted by a combination of technical problems, bad weather and surging demand, officials said Wednesday.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of snake
Verb
  • Some, including the Idaho Potato Commission, swear that the way a baked potato is opened affects the texture, eschewing a knife for a fork to gently poke a plus sign into the surface.
    — Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 Oct. 2026
  • From ceviche and poke to pasta and tacos, the menu revolves around the catch of the day, which is sourced from local markets.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of poke
Verb
  • Christmas decorations linger into summer, and grasses grow high through rusting cars.
    — Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The orchard and cidery serves pizzas and pastas alongside hot or cold cider, and hosts live music as folks linger along the outdoor tables with drinks and games.
    — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of linger

Phrases Containing crawl

Browse Nearby Words

craving
crawl
crawled
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Cite this Entry

“Crawl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crawl. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on crawl

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about crawl

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