creeping

[kree-ping]

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.

adjective

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

   creeping inflation;

   creeping socialism.

Word History and Origins

Origin of creeping¹

creep + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Meanwhile, inflation is creeping up, almost entirely because of tariff-related price increases.

From Los Angeles Times

The triple lock means the new state pension - for those who reached pension age after April 2016 - is creeping closer to the £12,570 threshold at which tax becomes payable.

From BBC

But rarely is that actually the case, and that’s why the creeping demise of the editorial cartoon has left such a hole in our news consumption.

From Salon

That is the result of the carceral state, whereby ICE and the National Guard prowl the streets, creeping out normal people going about their business.

From Salon

And what does this apparent creeping of media power in those regions mean in an age with a shifting world order?

From BBC

Related Words

• climbing www.thesaurus.com
• spreading www.thesaurus.com