creepy

[kree-pee]

See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com

adjective, creep·i·er, creep·i·est.

having or causing a creeping sensation of the skin, as from horror or fear: a creepy ghost story.
that creeps: a creepy insect.
Slang. of, relating to, or characteristic of a person who is a creep; obnoxious; weird.

Origin of creepy

First recorded in 1825–35; creep + -y¹

Related formscreep·i·ly, adverbcreep·i·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for creepy

Contemporary Examples

And we can listen to the pathetic, creepy bravado of a former vice president, wrong on nearly every decision he made.
Dick Cheney vs. ‘Unbroken’
Mike Barnicle
December 15, 2014
Creepy thing to wrap up in festive paper and a bow and give to a newborn baby, yeah?
Keep Christmas Commercialized!
P. J. O’Rourke
December 6, 2014
Private schools have a way of being a magnet for scandals for the creepy, inappropriate adults who run them.
Headmasters Behaving Badly
Emily Shire
November 29, 2014
A prime example of creepy camouflage is thinking of harassment as compliments.
Hey, Creeps, ‘Compliments’ Are Harassment, Too
Tauriq Moosa
November 5, 2014
Hollaback is right to shine a light on these creepy comments from creepy strangers.
Street Harassment Shouldn’t Be a Crime
Lizzie Crocker
October 29, 2014

Historical Examples

But it made us turn cold and creepy just to think of it, and we said we wouldn't budge.
Tom Sawyer Abroad
Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
I am not a coward, said Maya, I dont 118 think I am, but what you say makes me creepy.
The Adventures of Maya the Bee
Waldemar Bonsels
That is a creepy thing, to have your horse act so, when you don't know why.
Pluck on the Long Trail
Edwin L. Sabin
It sort of scares me, Steve—it's so creepy and crawly looking.
Spacehounds of IPC
Edward Elmer Smith
The thought gave David a creepy feeling on the back of his neck.
David and the Phoenix
Edward Ormondroyd

British Dictionary definitions for creepy

creepy

adjective creepier or creepiest

informal having or causing a sensation of repulsion, horror, or fear, as of creatures crawling on the skin
creeping; slow-moving

Derived Formscreepily, adverbcreepiness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for creepy

adj.

1794, "characterized by creeping," from creep + -y (2). Meaning "having a creeping feeling in the flesh" is from 1831; that of producing such a feeling, the main modern sense, is from 1858. Creepy-crawly is from 1858.

creepy

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}creepy

Examples from the Web for creepy

Contemporary Examples

And we can listen to the pathetic, creepy bravado of a former vice president, wrong on nearly every decision he made.

Creepy thing to wrap up in festive paper and a bow and give to a newborn baby, yeah?

Private schools have a way of being a magnet for scandals for the creepy, inappropriate adults who run them.

A prime example of creepy camouflage is thinking of harassment as compliments.

Hollaback is right to shine a light on these creepy comments from creepy strangers.

Historical Examples

But it made us turn cold and creepy just to think of it, and we said we wouldn't budge.

I am not a coward, said Maya, I dont 118 think I am, but what you say makes me creepy.

That is a creepy thing, to have your horse act so, when you don't know why.

It sort of scares me, Steve—it's so creepy and crawly looking.

The thought gave David a creepy feeling on the back of his neck.

creepy

Word Origin and History for creepy

adj.

Origin of creepy