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
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
Amy Powell,
Forbes.com,
30 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
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
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
Over time, creeping phlox will fill in gaps and create a lush carpet of foliage and blooms.
—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
24 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
Humidity starts creeping back up on Thursday.
—
Cutter Martin,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
Catastrophe looms in Terrestrials' near-menacing tone, full of ominous synth pulses and creeping grooves.
—
Cassidy Sollazzo,
Pitchfork,
19 June 2026
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
Costs begin creeping higher, margins get a little tighter and profitability comes under pressure.
—
Amy Powell,
Forbes.com,
30 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
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
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
Over time, creeping phlox will fill in gaps and create a lush carpet of foliage and blooms.
—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
24 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
Humidity starts creeping back up on Thursday.
—
Cutter Martin,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
Catastrophe looms in Terrestrials' near-menacing tone, full of ominous synth pulses and creeping grooves.
—
Cassidy Sollazzo,
Pitchfork,
19 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.
-
That was when the lensman captured the social set at their leisurely and often strikingly dressed best.
Verb
-
Keeping the encroaching natural world at bay is a struggle in neighborhoods adjacent to Los Angeles County’s wildlands.
-
Not even underage performers are safe from the encroaching tech.
Verb
-
But for a growing number of older people, those retirement years are arriving with lingering debt problems attached.
-
Irving remains on the roster amid lingering questions about his future after missing all of last season.
Verb
-
The Germans were crawling as far as the street, dashing across the asphalt, then leaping into the second trench.
-
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.
Verb
-
Compounding concerns, California officials say the Department of Transportation is dragging its feet.
-
One small habit that has helped me tremendously is dragging important emails directly into my calendar.
Adjective
-
What to expect over the weekend Though Friday was expected to be the slowest day of the competition, the atmosphere at Cal Expo was anything but dull.
-
Some residents are calling for civilian volunteers to help clear debris, frustrated by the slow pace of the rescue operations.
Verb
-
The company is a major investor in OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, and a report in The New York Times suggested OpenAI is considering delaying an initial public offering of its stock to next year from the second half of this year.
-
The company is a major investor in OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, and a report in The New York Times suggested OpenAI is considering delaying an initial public offering of its stock to next year from the second half of this year.
Verb
-
Timberwolves general manager Matt Lloyd said Minnesota was considering selecting Duke wing Isaiah Evans with the 28th pick in this week’s NBA Draft, prior to the Wolves sliding back five selections due to the Julius Randle trade.
-
Tire tread depth - Checking your tire tread before hitting the road is important, as low or no tread can lead to sliding.
Cite this Entry
“Creeping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/creeping. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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