1
as in encroached
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
Relevance
2
as in lingered
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
4
as in dragged
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 crept
Over recent decades, the average retirement age has crept steadily up.
—
Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
Less than a month after Mark Zuckerberg made a fashion week cameo on Prada’s front row in Milan, Meta has crept back into the fashion conversation.
—Amy O’Brien, Vogue, 30 Mar. 2026
Over-aggression crept into multiple areas of their approach.
—Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 29 Mar. 2026
Controversies like those surrounding Gilgan’s column inspired several AI researchers to go back and see how much AI material has crept into American newspapers.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 26 Mar. 2026
West Texas Intermediate, the benchmark for domestic oil prices, has remained at or below $100 per barrel for nearly two weeks, while Brent Crude, the benchmark for international oil prices, has crept back up toward $110.
—Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026
While Chavez was a controversial figure even in his own era, a dark shadow crept over his legacy as reactions began pouring in Wednesday, after one of his strongest allies, Dolores Huerta, 96, posted a statement on her foundation’s website accusing him of rape.
—Ryan Carter, Daily News, 18 Mar. 2026
There has been the odd mistake as fatigue has crept in, but amid the angst and difficulties of Newcastle’s other, expensive summer signings, the 24-year-old Germany international has settled quickly.
—The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2026
On March 13, the Fed's preferred inflation gauge — the Personal Consumption Expenditures index — showed that consumer prices crept higher in January, a sign that costs continued to rise even before the Iran war's impact on the energy sector.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026
Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
Less than a month after Mark Zuckerberg made a fashion week cameo on Prada’s front row in Milan, Meta has crept back into the fashion conversation.
—Amy O’Brien, Vogue, 30 Mar. 2026
Over-aggression crept into multiple areas of their approach.
—Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 29 Mar. 2026
Controversies like those surrounding Gilgan’s column inspired several AI researchers to go back and see how much AI material has crept into American newspapers.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 26 Mar. 2026
West Texas Intermediate, the benchmark for domestic oil prices, has remained at or below $100 per barrel for nearly two weeks, while Brent Crude, the benchmark for international oil prices, has crept back up toward $110.
—Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026
While Chavez was a controversial figure even in his own era, a dark shadow crept over his legacy as reactions began pouring in Wednesday, after one of his strongest allies, Dolores Huerta, 96, posted a statement on her foundation’s website accusing him of rape.
—Ryan Carter, Daily News, 18 Mar. 2026
There has been the odd mistake as fatigue has crept in, but amid the angst and difficulties of Newcastle’s other, expensive summer signings, the 24-year-old Germany international has settled quickly.
—The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2026
On March 13, the Fed's preferred inflation gauge — the Personal Consumption Expenditures index — showed that consumer prices crept higher in January, a sign that costs continued to rise even before the Iran war's impact on the energy sector.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crept
Verb
-
For Andy Lester, chair of the Oklahoma Free Speech Committee, Harrington’s order encroached on the First Amendment.—
JC Hallman,
Oklahoma Watch,
22 Mar. 2026
-
In the last few decades, the bug has encroached from Utah’s Virgin River into prime flycatcher habitat in northern Arizona.—
Shi En Kim,
AZCentral.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The process of getting back to ace form lingered through the first half of the Miami Marlins’ 2025 season.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Strong high atmospheric pressure, which typically doesn’t form with as much strength until late spring or early summer, lingered for a large part of the month, bringing lots of sunshine, consistently above-average temperatures and very little rainfall.—
Anthony Franze,
San Antonio Express-News,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Woods was alone in the car and crawled out of the passenger door after the crash.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The man who crawled out of that chest would shape how nations justify power for centuries to come.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
His daughter, Erin Gerber, dragged her three-year-old son onto the front lawn when the vehicle approached the driveway.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Extortion attempts from that campaign dragged on for months.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Check subscriptions, compare a few price quotes, and choose quality over clutter, especially if your budget talks keep getting delayed or mixed between emails and texts.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Apr. 2026
-
American Airlines is telling you why your flight is delayed.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Grisham slid home just ahead of left fielder Heriberto Hernandez’s throw.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
-
As preparations were ongoing for the game, ice slid off the stadium and struck six workers.—
Nick Harris
April 3,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
After the offense was shut out on four hits in Tuesday night’s 2-0 loss to the Angels, Counsell shuffled the lineup.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Instead, Meyerson was shuffled to three different ALFs in six months — from Hialeah to Kendall to Homestead.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Thorns forward poked the ball through and Ball kicked her leg into Wilson’s path, taking her down inside the box.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Since then, the president has repeatedly poked at the vulnerability.—
Taryn Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crept.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crept. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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