creepy
English edit
Etymology edit
Pronunciation edit
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈkɹiːpi/
Audio (Southern England) (file) - (General American) enPR: krīʹpī, IPA(key): /ˈkɹipi/
- Rhymes: -iːpi
- Hyphenation: creep‧y
Adjective edit
creepy (comparative creepier, superlative creepiest)
- Moving by creeping along.
- 1876, Lewis Carroll, The Hunting of the Snark […] , London: Macmillan, Fit the Fifth. The Beaver's Lesson:
- The Beaver brought paper, portfolio, pens, / And ink in unfailing supplies: / While strange creepy creatures came out of their dens, / And watched them with wondering eyes.
- (informal) Producing an uneasy fearful sensation, as of things crawling over one's skin.
- creepy ghosts
- (informal) Causing discomfort or repulsion due to strange or eccentric behaviour.
- (informal, especially) Causing discomfort through exhibiting sexually inappropriate behaviour.
- That creepy old man keeps leering at me!
- 2022, Scott Bell, Pest Cemetery, page 235:
- "He doesn't look creepy," I said. "Kind of nerdy, in a harmless way.
"Looks can be deceiving. See that camera? He was always going around with that camera, snapping pictures. Some girls caught him trying to get 'up skirt' shots while they sat at their desks. […]"
- (informal, uncommon) Feeling an uneasy fearful sensation; creeped out.
- 1920, Algernon Blackwood, First Hate:
- “I felt creepy and afraid,” continued the other, with conviction. “I had the sensation of being seen by someone—as if someone, I mean, was watching me. […]
Derived terms edit
Related terms edit
Translations edit
moving by creeping along
producing a fearful sensation
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strangely repulsive
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Anagrams edit
Dutch edit
Etymology edit
Unadapted borrowing from English creepy.
Adjective edit
creepy (comparative creepyer, superlative creepy'st)
- (informal) creepy (scary or sexually disconcerting)
- Het was daar 's nachts best creepy. ― It was pretty creepy there at night.
- Hij zat de hele tijd creepy naar haar te staren. ― He was staring at her creepily the whole time.