Synonyms

creeping

American

[kree-ping] / ˈkri pɪŋ /

noun

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

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

By 2024, they had been reported in Mexico, and were creeping north towards the US.

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026

Despite the mouse’s tranquil existence, she can’t help but notice the ocean creeping closer every day.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

They have complicated relationships, but there’s nothing better for ironing things out than creeping together through dark tunnels by flashlight, hoping that nothing jumps out at you, engaging in weightless banter as you go.

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026

"It's a sign that more caution is creeping in and that management is still keeping an eye on how the conflict will unfold rather than aggressively expanding returns to shareholders."

From Barron's • May 7, 2026

He flipped to the very front of the book and pointed to the picture of his teenage grandfather creeping through a dungeon to free an imprisoned woman and a very annoyed-looking goose.

From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023