creepy

[kree-pee]

adjective

creepier, creepiest 

1. having or causing a creeping sensation of the skin, as from horror or fear.

   a creepy ghost story.

2. that creeps: creep.

   a creepy insect.

3. Slang.,  of, relating to, or characteristic of a person who is a creep; creep; obnoxious; weird.

creepy

/ ˈkriːpɪ /

adjective

1. informal,  having or causing a sensation of repulsion, horror, or fear, as of creatures crawling on the skin

2. creeping; slow-moving

Other Word Forms

• creepily adverb
• creepiness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of creepy¹

First recorded in 1825–35; creep + -y ¹

Example Sentences

Emmy award-winning actor Matthew Rhys says he was inspired by fellow Welshman Anthony Hopkins for his latest "creepy" role.

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Shirley Jackson’s wizardry is to make the bizarre seem utterly natural, a talent on full display in this sublimely creepy novel.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The pop band Muna chastised some of their supporters for "spreading falsehoods about us and our loved ones for clout and attention"; while Doja Cat called out "creepy" behaviour from a section of her fanbase.

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Dame Penny said that she had found the emails "creepy" but said that "real alarm bells didn't go off until he came to my office".

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Predictably, those vessels break open so his grey flesh can supernaturally merge into a foul lump of distorted features and tentacles, binding Lilly while a creepy voice asks, “Got a kiss for daddy?”

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• awful 
• disgusting 
• disturbing 
• eerie 
• frightening www.thesaurus.com
• ghoulish 
• macabre 
• menacing 
• ominous 
• sinister 
• terrifying 
• weird