CREEPING Synonyms: 179 Similar and Opposite Words

creeping 1 of 2

adjective

ˈkrē-piŋ

Definition of creeping

as in leisurely

moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed at this creeping pace of progress we'll never have the float ready for the parade

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

creeping

2 of 2

verb

present participle of creep

as in encroaching

to advance gradually beyond the usual or desirable limits water crept slowly over the top of the tub and onto the floor

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in lingering

to move or act slowly that Friday afternoon we were just creeping, waiting for the bell to sound so that we could start the long weekend

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in crawling

to move slowly with the body close to the ground the kitten crept silently across the floor before suddenly pouncing on the mouse

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in dragging

to move slowly the class hour seems to creep by

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 creeping

Adjective

The play depends on the creeping eeriness of thinking your place of comfort has been corrupted and undercut by evil. — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026 The warmth of the film—shot on location in Positano, Italy—only adds to its creeping, sexy menace. — Literary Hub, 15 Apr. 2026 The overall effect is one of decadence laced with a creeping sense of horror. — Charlie Jane Anders, Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2023 As a child, she was plagued by anxiety and the creeping sense that adults, especially her mother, were keeping secrets from the kids. — Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Jan. 2023 Then comes the creeping sense that their conversation is screwy. — Amy Nicholson, Variety, 11 Sep. 2022 For some, once the initial shock wore off, a creeping sense of inevitability set in. — Ruth Madievsky, The Atlantic, 18 July 2022 This growing entanglement of the corporate and social, this creeping sense of being tracked by invisible eyes, demands an increasing sophistication about what is said and where. — Kara Devlin, Longreads, 20 May 2022 But beneath the know-it-all tweets, there is a creeping sense that the psychological distance between the masses of 401(k) investors and the billionaire marks may not be that far. — New York Times, 9 Oct. 2021

Verb

Finally, while work is underway to build a formal framework for economic espionage, Congress must prevent any creeping erosion of the existing norm through the potentially corrupt dissemination of intelligence to favored companies. — David S. Cohen, Foreign Affairs, 8 Oct. 2026 Yep, there are more and more signs creeping in by the election cycle. — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026 Carr takes a beat to scan the field, no doubt noticing three corners in press and an extra safety creeping toward the line. — Nick Baumgardner, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026 But there was something else that was creeping into his head. — Andy Martinez, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026 This is why the sameness creeping into corporate communications right now bothers me more than the question of whether AI can write a good press release. — Amanda Simonian, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026 The onset of rot is creeping closer and the meat may even begin to stink. — Jack Hennessy, Outdoor Life, 23 Sep. 2026 The sultry allure of R&B vocal stylings is steadily creeping back into the forefront of mainstream music — and that includes some of the buzziest genres around the world. — Kyle Denis, Billboard, 22 Sep. 2026 The vote is taking place amid a backdrop of creeping social tensions in Russia, as the Kremlin continues to propagate a war in Ukraine – now in its fifth year. — Zahra Ullah, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for creeping

Adjective

But in order to make the most of the experiment, scientists ensured a second spacecraft would follow DART at a more leisurely pace.

— Meghan Bartels, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2026
If a leisurely day by the pool is on the agenda, order chips and guac or sip a Valley Margarita from the comfort of your chaise lounge.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of leisurely

Verb

The animal started encroaching on people’s houses day and night.

— Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
Yet the snap decision to have Danantara take over exports—announced by Prabowo in May—has unnerved analysts who worry about encroaching state control of the economy, as well as at the sovereign wealth fund.

— Angelica Ang, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of encroaching

Verb

Abruptly moving on, like a magician preventing his audience from lingering on his last trick, Alex pulled out a tablet, holding it up to me.

— Andrew Lipstein, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2026
Also on the ground floor is Maven, serving strong espresso and nitro cold brew—plus coffee cocktails worth lingering for.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of lingering

Verb

At the hospital, an insect fell from the girl’s shoe, and a staffer saw a cockroach crawling on her, the district attorney’s office said.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Of course, an extra three-quarters of an inch clearance and some elastic straps do not transform a unibody, front-biased crossover into an invincible rock-crawling monster.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of crawling

Verb

He’s also been known to engage with those who might not be fans of his comedic stylings, publicly arguing back and forth with civilians, dragging them on his social media for his fans to see.

— Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 14 Oct. 2026
Beaches typically go through a seasonal cycle with powerful winter waves dragging sand out to sea and more mild summer waves depositing the sand back onshore.

— Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of dragging

Adjective

On winding roads, its model-specific suspension tuning and focus on weight reduction translate into exceptional body control at speed without becoming brittle or overly rigid in slower, more technical sections.

— Bradley Iger, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026
In particular, he was asked about Netflix’s slower growth (2% year-over-year growth in user engagement during the first half in 2026).

— Matt Donnelly, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of slow

Verb

The daughter, Shannon Amos, faults her brother, Kelly Christopher Amos, for delaying medical care while isolating the actor from his family and friends in the years leading up to his death.

— Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
More and more parents are delaying vaccines and citing logistics, outsourcing the decision to the parent who isn’t in the room or simply wanting more time.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of delaying

Verb

The system can also move with the trailer’s sliding suspension.

— Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026
His return this preseason was intentionally low-key, sliding onto the roster of the last-place Kings (22-60 last season) without much fanfare.

— Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of sliding

Browse Nearby Words

creepiness

creeping

creeping up

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Creeping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/creeping. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of creeping

adjective

verb

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