creeping

American  

[kree-ping] / ˈkri pɪŋ /

noun

1. Slang. the act or practice of following someone persistently or stealthily, especially online.

   Twitter and LinkedIn creeping is a normal part of my day.

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adjective

1. advancing or developing gradually so as to infringe on or supplant something else.

   creeping inflation;

   creeping socialism.

Etymology

Origin of creeping

creep + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

More significantly, doubt is creeping in about how long America’s markets will remain exceptional—stocks that trade at a premium and bonds that stay buoyant despite no end in sight to government red ink.

From The Wall Street Journal

Recently, I’ve felt the creeping sense that it’s all been taking too long, that working for only four hours a week hasn’t been cutting it.

From Literature

He kept creeping forward, staying as far from Dr. Achebe as he could.

From Literature

Valuations across the software space are creeping down, both UBS and Cantor Fitzgerald pointed out.

From Barron's

Again and again, I observed Harvey navigate the madness like a seasoned cabbie: edging purposefully into traffic, claiming lane position, anticipating the flow of pedestrians, creeping forward to signal intent—not just smart but clever.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• climbing
• spreading