crawl 1 of 2

verb

ˈkrȯl How to pronounce crawl (audio)
Definition of crawlnext
1
as in to creep
to move slowly with the body close to the ground the time we had to crawl through a narrow passageway from one cave to another

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to drag
to move slowly the weekend traffic on the road to the beach just crawled

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to delay
to move or act slowly the deadline is fast approaching, so this is no time to crawl

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to burst
to be copiously supplied something must be up, as city hall is crawling with reporters

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

crawl

2 of 2

noun

as in delay

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of crawl
Verb
This means insects can simply crawl right back out once the suction stops and is especially true of bagless models. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026 There, guards forced her and the other Azov women onto the ground and told them to crawl across the concrete floor and into their cell, a basement smaller than a studio apartment, with a sliver of window just above ground level. — Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
Noun
All these vehicles have seen showroom traffic slow to a crawl, so the automakers are scaling back or shelving their offerings in the segment (with the focus turning to smaller, more efficient vehicles that can be built and sold profitably). — Michael Harley, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026 If no shelter is available, crawl to an interior wall away from windows. — Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 16 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for crawl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crawl
  1. creep
  2. drag
  3. delay
  4. burst
  5. traffic
  6. snake
  7. poke
  8. linger
Verb
  • The typical credit score has crept upward, landing in the 700s on the VantageScore scale.
    — Sharon Wu, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The polarizing quarterback will start Cleveland's exhibition opener at Chicago on Saturday — his first game action since 2024 — and Shedeur Sanders will play in the second half as the Browns' QB competition creeps toward a conclusion.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of creep
Verb
  • Pourrain submitted a request for extension of his stay, was awaiting an appointment, the process dragged on for years, and in the meantime, he was granted a work permit and had a valid driver’s license.
    — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 12 Aug. 2026
  • But Beaman is quick to point out that people shouldn't simply head into the woods and start dragging things out themselves.
    — Spencer Wilson, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of drag
Verb
  • Conditions that are too cold might delay proofing or rising, resulting in a super-dense loaf.
    — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Cellphone use before bed delays the natural drop in cortisol that teenagers need to fall asleep, according to Alice Hoagland, PhD, director of the Insomnia Clinic at the Rochester Regional Sleep Disorder Center.
    — Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of delay
Verb
  • Authorities rescued residents from high water in several areas in Indiana, including Delaware, Madison, Wayne and Henry counties as rivers burst their banks.
    — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Lavandeira also defended her brother, who in the early aughts burst onto the internet’s celebrity culture and gossip scene with shocking headlines and often lewd doodles over celeb images.
    — Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of burst
Noun
  • Joseph Manjack caught a pair of passes for 27 yards on Denver’s opening drive of the third quarter, including an impressive grab over the middle in heavy traffic.
    — Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The latest figures mark a slight improvement from the previous week, when traffic was just 4% of pre-war levels, according to the UKMTO.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of traffic
Verb
  • Previously centered on Nashville and central Tennessee, the district now extends to the northwest corner of the state before snaking south along the Mississippi River to Memphis.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • After Haystack Pass—one of the trail’s most significant ascents—the Highline continues, snaking across open valleys, offering nearly uninterrupted views before reaching the Granite Park Chalet.
    — Taryn Shorr-Mckee, Travel + Leisure, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of snake
Verb
  • Dike was waiting in the middle to poke it home, giving Orlando a 1-0 lead.
    — Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
  • But regardless of any lack of confidence in Hamas’ true intentions, in Mladenov’s faith in the ability to verify weapons decommissioning, or indeed Netanyahu’s own willingness to order any troop withdrawals, why poke Trump so publicly in the eye?
    — Andrew Carey, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of poke
Verb
  • In astrology, Venus governs love, pleasure, money, relationships and values, while Pluto exposes what’s lingering beneath the surface.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Any lingering hope that Netanyahu could be convinced to take part in such an endeavor now looks for the birds.
    — Andrew Carey, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of linger

Phrases Containing crawl

Browse Nearby Words

craving
crawl
crawled
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Cite this Entry

“Crawl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crawl. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on crawl

Nglish: Translation of crawl for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about crawl

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