Synonyms

creeps

American

[kreeps] / krips /

noun

(used with a singular verb)

Veterinary Pathology. a disease of the bones in sheep and cattle that causes pain in walking, resulting from a deficiency of phosphorus in the diet.

creeps British

/ kriːps /

plural noun

informal a feeling of fear, repulsion, disgust, etc

"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

Etymology

Origin of creeps

So called from the effect on the animal's gait; see creep, -s ³

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.

When Dr. Becky says to greet guilt that creeps in for not knowing this stuff, I do: “Hi, Guilt.”

From Slate • May 10, 2026

“We’re leaning towards entertainment,” Jacobs says, before a wry smile creeps onto his face.

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026

This is still a relatively small number but Salesforce’s agent trajectory is an important metric as enterprise AI adoption creeps higher.

From Barron's • Mar. 4, 2026

Unreliability creeps in at the edges of his storytelling, and glimpses of chaos and confusion peep through the surface charm.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026

“So…” A sneaky grin creeps across Emma’s face.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller

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