creepy
Americanadjective
-
informal having or causing a sensation of repulsion, horror, or fear, as of creatures crawling on the skin
-
creeping; slow-moving
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
Etymology
Origin of creepy
Explanation
Something is creepy if it feels like tiny things are crawling on you. The sensation of a spider on your arm is creepy. Ladybugs are pretty, but it still feels creepy when they crawl across your hand. Another kind of creepy feeling is something that gives you an unpleasant chill, like a creepy ghost story or the creepy sound of footsteps in your attic at night. The earliest meaning of creepy was simply "characterized by creeping," so in the 18th century you'd be creepy if you were simply tip-toeing quietly through your house.
Vocabulary lists containing creepy
Strange
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Strange
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Strange
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
I think people assume that the guy who created “The Twilight Zone” and was this really creepy, ominous host must have been this very dark and tormented person.
From Salon ● Oct. 10, 2026
Some tips for scaredy cats: If you don’t like spooky scary skeletons, creepy crawlies, or horror flicks, Halloween season can be a fright to endure.
From Slate ● Oct. 8, 2026
Some backdrops were creepy set dressing, while others had tactile brutality — Sphere often had the rumble-seat effect blaring.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026
Area manager at Auction House Notts & Derby, Jonathan Way, said he believed it was a "creepy doll" left standing in the corner of a bedroom that had captured people's imaginations.
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026
It was creepy, and even after two years, Moss still felt unnerved by him.
From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro
Every year, Halloween gets bigger, earlier and creepier.
From Washington Times ● Oct. 29, 2023
Keith’s Christopher, creepier and a bit clumsier, made me want to call campus security from the theater lobby.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 12, 2023
Deep into “R.M.N.,” an anatomy of the human condition, this powerhouse of a movie gets deeper, creepier and unnervingly familiar.
From New York Times ● Apr. 27, 2023
But I've learned so much from that book, I feel like the second one is coming out creepier from the beginning.
From Salon ● Jan. 21, 2023
The basement was immaculate, and that made it creepier for some, reason.
From "Burning Blue" by Paul Griffin
Creatures such as white dragon-like birds, glowing blue sponges, bug-eyed sloths, mutant frogs, flying bunnies and the creepiest of crawlies imaginable enrich each frame with impressive detail and lively color.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2024
A third person tweeted: “I can never un-hear this. It is fitting for Halloween as it’s one of the creepiest cringy things I’ve ever seen.”
From Salon ● Feb. 14, 2024
Finally available in the 4K disc format, it’s easily one of the creepiest films of all time.
From Washington Times ● Oct. 26, 2023
The creepiest by far is “dead men’s fingers,” Decaisnea fargesii, whose pewter-blue, fingerlike fruits stand out against butter-yellow foliage and reach out to unwary visitors.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 17, 2023
First of all, the old Willis house is the creepiest place you ever saw.
From "The Old Willis Place" by Mary Downing Hahn
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
