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creepy

adj
/ˈkɹiːpi/UK/ˈkɹipi/US

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *grewbʰ-der. Proto-Germanic *kreupaną Proto-West Germanic *kreupan Old English crēopan Middle English crepen English creep Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Germanic *-gaz Proto-West Germanic *-g Old English -iġ Middle English -y English -y English creepy From creep + -y.

  1. derived from *grewbʰ-✻ — “to turn, wind”
  2. inherited from *kreupaną✻ — “to twist, creep”
  3. inherited from *kreupan✻
  4. inherited from crēopan — “to creep, crawl”
  5. inherited from crepen
  6. formed as creepy — “creep + -y”

Definitions

  1. Moving by creeping along.

    • creepy-crawlies
    • 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.

  2. Producing an uneasy fearful sensation, as of things crawling over one's skin.

    • creepy ghosts

  3. Causing discomfort or repulsion due to strange or eccentric behavior.

  4. ›+ 2 more definitions

    1. Causing discomfort through exhibiting sexually inappropriate behavior.

      • That creepy old man keeps leering at me!

    2. Feeling an uneasy fearful sensation

      Feeling an uneasy fearful sensation; creeped out.

      • “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. […]

The neighborhood

Derived

creepify, creepily, creepiness, creepy-ass, creepy crawler, creepy-crawly, creepypasta, creepy-peepy, creepy weepy, uncreepy

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for creepy. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA