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 warmth of the film—shot on location in Positano, Italy—only adds to its creeping, sexy menace. — Literary Hub, 15 Apr. 2026

Verb

Over time, creeping phlox will fill in gaps and create a lush carpet of foliage and blooms. — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 24 June 2026 There has been growing discontent voiced by some Russians as the war has been slowly creeping onto their doorstep. — Zahra Ullah, CNN Money, 26 June 2026 Humidity starts creeping back up on Thursday. — Cutter Martin, CBS News, 22 June 2026 But Russia’s creeping advance in the highlands to the east has brought the city within range of new levels of Russian fire power. — Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 27 June 2026 Costs begin creeping higher, margins get a little tighter and profitability comes under pressure. — Amy Powell, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 Catastrophe looms in Terrestrials' near-menacing tone, full of ominous synth pulses and creeping grooves. — Cassidy Sollazzo, Pitchfork, 19 June 2026 About 1 million 16-to-24-year-olds now find themselves not in employment, education or training, with levels creeping toward highs not seen since the 2008 financial crash. — Letters To The Editor, Washington Post, 29 June 2026 Best Prime Day Matching Sets for Summer Summer temperatures are already creeping in, serving as a friendly reminder that pants aren’t always a fit for June. — Annie Blackman, InStyle, 22 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for creeping

Adjective

Mondays have $5 martinis, mules and margaritas, Fridays and Saturdays are for boogying upstairs and the patio at Metro is an any-day spot for a leisurely drink or three.

— Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 30 June 2026
That was when the lensman captured the social set at their leisurely and often strikingly dressed best.

— Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 26 June 2026

Definition of leisurely

Verb

This season, our editors are savoring the activities that take us back to some of our favorite childhood days—jumping off docks, sliding down twisty pool slides, and lingering outside long into the evening.

— Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 4 July 2026
Any strange or lingering foot symptoms, though, could be a sign of a bigger health condition.

— Erica Sloan, Washington Post, 3 July 2026

Definition of lingering

Verb

The Germans were crawling as far as the street, dashing across the asphalt, then leaping into the second trench.

— Vasily Grossman, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
Jude Cornell joined a swarm of toddlers crawling after soccer balls, tossing training cones into the air and relocating a goalie net that was proving to be very, very portable.

— ABC News, ABC News, 30 June 2026

Definition of crawling

Verb

While delaying benefits is typically optimal, a hypothetical 22% cut by 2033 significantly shifts optimal claiming ages for many single individuals, potentially encouraging earlier filing, but often not for married couples.

— Steve Vernon, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Some workers were granted exemptions, and a handful of departments were delaying implementation of the governor’s mandate.

— Sofia Williams, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026

Definition of delaying

Verb

The sequence started with Bosnian defender Stjepan Radeljic sliding in front of a Tillman pass, deflecting it forward toward Muharemovic.

— Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Some providers might work on a sliding fee scale, for example, which adjusts cost based on a patient’s household income and family size.

— Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 2 July 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 8 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of creeping

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

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