Synonyms of crept

crept

verb

past tense of creep

1

as in encroached

to advance gradually beyond the usual or desirable limits

water crept slowly over the top of the tub and onto the floor

Synonyms & Similar Words

• encroached
• inched
• snuck
• invaded
• sneaked
• wormed
• snaked
• intrenched
• entrenched
• intruded
• impinged
• infringed
• overstepped
• overshot
• overreached
• overran
• overpassed

2

as in lingered

to move or act slowly

that Friday afternoon we were just creeping, waiting for the bell to sound so that we could start the long weekend

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lingered
• crawled
• delayed
• dragged
• poked
• strolled
• loitered
• shuffled
• dawdled
• lagged
• played
• stalled
• fell behind
• diddled
• dropped behind
• tarried
• hung fire
• lollygagged
• marked time
• lounged
• dallied
• staggered
• moped
• lallygagged
• sauntered
• dragged one's heels
• idled
• ambled
• inched
• took one's time
• dragged one's feet
• dillydallied
• trifled
• loafed
• eased
• hanged (around or out)
• shilly-shallied
• fiddled (around)
• plodded
• puttered (around)
• lolled
• pottered (around)
• fooled around
• decelerated
• hung (around or out)
• lumbered
• slowed (down or up)
• messed around
• temporized
• procrastinated
• monkeyed (around)
• filibustered

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hurried
• sped
• hastened
• raced
• scurried
• rushed
• flew
• ran
• scooted
• dashed
• tore
• whirled
• run
• ripped
• bolted
• speeded
• darted
• whizzed
• coursed
• rocketed
• whisked
• scudded
• zipped
• scrambled
• careered
• hustled
• barreled
• hurtled
• trotted
• stampeded
• breezed
• barrelled
• humped
• ran
• galloped
• sprinted
• jogged
• bowled
• run
• quickened
• accelerated
• overtook
• hotfooted (it)
• sped (up)
• outstripped
• outpaced
• speeded (up)
• caught up
• outran
• fast-forwarded

3

as in crawled

to move slowly with the body close to the ground

the kitten crept silently across the floor before suddenly pouncing on the mouse

Synonyms & Similar Words

• crawled
• slid
• snaked
• slithered
• snuck
• tiptoed
• wriggled
• crouched
• wormed
• sneaked
• grovelled
• squatted
• groveled
• bellied
• inched
• edged
• stole
• nosed
• skulked

4

as in dragged

to move slowly

the class hour seems to creep by

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dragged
• crawled
• shuffled
• poked
• inched
• slouched
• limped
• oozed
• creaked (along)
• plodded
• nosed
• snailed
• trudged
• shambled
• tramped
• lumbered

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• flew
• raced
• sped
• speeded
• sailed
• floated
• glided
• hurried
• whizzed
• zipped
• tore

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of crept

While the overall mortality rate for breast cancer has declined by 44 percent between 1989 and 2022, a new report published Tuesday by the American Cancer Society finds that breast cancer incidence crept upward by 1 percent each year between 2012 and 2021. —Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Oct. 2024