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
as in crawled
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 dragged
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 crept
In the meantime, floodwaters crept closer and closer to her place.
—
Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 18 Sep. 2025
Inflation has crept higher over the past several months in part because tariffs are – slowly – starting to boost prices.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2025
Doubt certainly appears to have crept into the City camp over the past year, which one win in their last four derbies will only feed into.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2025
The closer her bus crept to the border, the more nervous Sofi grew.
—ProPublica, 13 Sep. 2025
Chicago's wild card lead over the San Diego Padres has crept down to just two games with a little under three weeks remaining in the season.
—Andrew Wright, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
The jobs report from July shattered the narrative that the economy of 2025 was strong, revising previous figures downward and revealing something close to an 80% collapse in hiring, even as inflation crept upwards and layoffs rolled.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2025
By 2024, the number had crept to 30%.
—Alice Lassman, Time, 8 Sep. 2025
After inconclusive indirect talks during the Biden administration and Israel’s increasingly offensive regional military actions in the wake of Hamas’s brazen October 7 attacks, Iran, according to some estimates, crept to within days of being able to enrich enough uranium for a bomb.
—Vipin Narang, Foreign Affairs, 5 Sep. 2025
Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 18 Sep. 2025
Inflation has crept higher over the past several months in part because tariffs are – slowly – starting to boost prices.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2025
Doubt certainly appears to have crept into the City camp over the past year, which one win in their last four derbies will only feed into.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2025
The closer her bus crept to the border, the more nervous Sofi grew.
—ProPublica, 13 Sep. 2025
Chicago's wild card lead over the San Diego Padres has crept down to just two games with a little under three weeks remaining in the season.
—Andrew Wright, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
The jobs report from July shattered the narrative that the economy of 2025 was strong, revising previous figures downward and revealing something close to an 80% collapse in hiring, even as inflation crept upwards and layoffs rolled.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2025
By 2024, the number had crept to 30%.
—Alice Lassman, Time, 8 Sep. 2025
After inconclusive indirect talks during the Biden administration and Israel’s increasingly offensive regional military actions in the wake of Hamas’s brazen October 7 attacks, Iran, according to some estimates, crept to within days of being able to enrich enough uranium for a bomb.
—Vipin Narang, Foreign Affairs, 5 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crept
Verb
-
The ads have now encroached into social media without proper disclosures with many online pharmacies not following the same rules that many pharmaceutical companies follow, a senior White House official said.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
9 Sep. 2025
-
From the deadly 2025 Los Angeles fires to the devastating 2019-2020 Australian bushfires and the 2018 wildfire in Athens, Greece, flames have increasingly encroached upon human settlements, claiming lives and livelihoods.—
Seyd Teymoor Seydi,
The Conversation,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
When smoke exposure was higher, more people died — and the impacts lingered, with the death rate remaining elevated for as many as three years beyond the smoke.—
Alejandra Borunda,
NPR,
19 Sep. 2025
-
While wolves may have lingered near human camps, dogs took this relationship a step further.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In commemoration of World War II, a creaky old Sherman tank crawled past half-empty bleachers, and the Korean War was honored with a short video.—
Seth Harp,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
-
His satirical conservative anchorman then crawled out from behind the Late Show desk and basked in the corresponding cheers as the Colbert Report theme song played.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Security reviews and App Store approvals dragged far longer than the five-week YC sprint.—
Sandy Carter,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
-
After lengthy negotiations that dragged on for the past several months, the 38-year-old Argentine legend and Inter Miami have agreed to terms on a new multiyear contract, according to a source with knowledge of the deal.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Ten other airlines delayed between one and 19 flights.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
16 Sep. 2025
-
The San Diego City Council voted 6-2 Monday to begin charging parking fees in Balboa Park for the first time, but council members delayed the start date by several months and granted many park users some major concessions.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Nvidia shares slid about 2% before the bell.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Under the guise of trying to help Erik, a former girlfriend slid back into his life, and in the process, stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from him.—
ForbesTV,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Kraken shuffled their front office, but didn’t change direction.—
Jonas Siegel,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
-
The practice schedule has also been shuffled, sleep is being emphasized and the team will travel on a larger plane.—
Haley Sawyer,
Oc Register,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
During her acceptance speech last year for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series, the actress poked fun at her own success.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
16 Sep. 2025
-
No movie poked holes in the stereotypical puffy rock-star ego more effectively than Spinal Tap did, and there are legions of fans who have the film almost completely memorized.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Crept.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crept. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share