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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
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
2
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
3
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
4
as in dragging
to move slowly
the class hour seems to creep by
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of creeping
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
Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Her works explored Oedipal urges and creeping fascism.
—Laura Regensdorf, Vogue, 31 Mar. 2026
Seagrasses brought to these sea bottoms buried creeping stems, strong roots, and pliable leaves.
—David George Haskell, Big Think, 27 Mar. 2026
Jessica Winward’s lighting helps define the different periods — with sepia tones creeping into the past and brighter colors for modern day.
—Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
The plant that produces cucumbers is, after all, a creeping vine, and its history is shaped by different kinds of motion.
—Andrés Muedano, JSTOR Daily, 25 Mar. 2026
With global temperatures creeping upward, what was once considered extreme heat is becoming the new normal.
—Brad Stulberg, Outside, 25 Mar. 2026
Similarly, in the Brentford match, there were examples of frustration creeping into the Leeds play, resulting in low-quality shots being taken from range.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Then those lights flick off abruptly, dropping us into the dark like an elevator glitching down a floor, instead of delivering a creeping descent to hell.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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
The technology is sweeping almost every profession while also creeping into people’s personal lives, sometimes with devastating consequences.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Her works explored Oedipal urges and creeping fascism.
—Laura Regensdorf, Vogue, 31 Mar. 2026
Seagrasses brought to these sea bottoms buried creeping stems, strong roots, and pliable leaves.
—David George Haskell, Big Think, 27 Mar. 2026
Jessica Winward’s lighting helps define the different periods — with sepia tones creeping into the past and brighter colors for modern day.
—Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
The plant that produces cucumbers is, after all, a creeping vine, and its history is shaped by different kinds of motion.
—Andrés Muedano, JSTOR Daily, 25 Mar. 2026
With global temperatures creeping upward, what was once considered extreme heat is becoming the new normal.
—Brad Stulberg, Outside, 25 Mar. 2026
Similarly, in the Brentford match, there were examples of frustration creeping into the Leeds play, resulting in low-quality shots being taken from range.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Then those lights flick off abruptly, dropping us into the dark like an elevator glitching down a floor, instead of delivering a creeping descent to hell.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for creeping
Adjective
-
Many Parisian restaurants are relatively small, so tables fill up quickly and stay filled because dining is a leisurely event, with tables turning over less frequently.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
-
By the 1950s Madras print in the United States had become a popular style for Ivy League students, gentleman’s business attire, and leisurely vacation wear.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Brooks has no interest in the broader sweep of history and, indeed, no apparent knowledge of the philosophical accounts of encroaching meaninglessness which have been on offer for centuries.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Despite the many microphones, cameras and phones recording him — and a huddle of people encroaching on his personal space — Edwards could not stop smiling.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The primary suite is described as storage-rich and spa-like, with multiple closets and a bath built for lingering.—
David Caraccio,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2026
-
In our present moment, as the production and consumption of hot takes continues to accelerate, there is a powerful form of resistance to be found in lingering with the unfamiliar, in offering attention without the promise of a quick take-away.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Until Isaacman’s program makeover, Artemis III was crawling toward a moon landing no sooner than 2029.—
Marcia Dunn,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
-
One provider recommended a different formula, but Laura responded that her son was burning calories by kicking in his bed, crawling and wheeling around in his wheelchair.—
Amelia Mugavero,
CBS News,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But right now, while the press is still bad and the lawsuits are still dragging, sellers should take a breath.—
Matthew Sedacca,
Curbed,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The SaaSpocalypse, ultimately, was a knee-jerk, existential reaction to where AI is (slowly, in many contexts) dragging the tech stack.—
Allie Garfinkle,
Fortune,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In fact, businesses hired workers at their slowest pace since 2011, excluding the onset of the pandemic in 2020.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The area’s large tourist population contributes a constant volume of unfamiliar drivers to already heavily congested roads, with traffic patterns that shift significantly between peak tourist season and the summer months but never truly slow to manageable levels on the area’s major corridors.—
Anton Lucanus
April 3,
Miami Herald,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Are clients delaying decisions on big investments?—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Others called it a performative move that contrasts with the EPA’s recent regulatory actions, including a rollback of mercury emissions standards, rescinding drinking water limits for certain PFAS and delaying Biden-era restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions.—
Erika Edwards,
NBC news,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Attempts to resolve ecological responsibility through strict localism often risk sliding into cultural provincialism or nationalist enclosure—fantasies of purity that ignore how deeply entangled our lives already are.—
Manuela Moscoso,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Hydroplaning is the term for when a vehicle begins sliding uncontrollably on wet roads.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Creeping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/creeping. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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