Standard Lemma guide

creepy-crawly

adj · noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

adj

Meaning 1

Unpleasant, repulsive.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Any small crawling animal such as a spider, insect or worm that is unpleasant.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: creepy crawler

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

An automated suction pool cleaner.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Australia, informal

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adjective satellite

Meaning 4

causing a sensation as of things crawling on your skin

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a creepy story
  • I had a creepy-crawly feeling

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: creepy

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

an animal that creeps or crawls (such as worms or spiders or insects)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: animal, animate being, beast, brute, creature, fauna

History

Etymology

A partial appellativization of Kreepy Krauly, a brand name, from Etymology 1.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Basque: zomorro — small crawling animal such as a spider, insect or worm
  • Catalan: cuca — small crawling animal such as a spider, insect or worm
  • Finnish: ötökkä — small crawling animal such as a spider, insect or worm
  • Finnish: mönkiäinen — small crawling animal such as a spider, insect or worm
  • Galician: bicho — small crawling animal such as a spider, insect or worm
  • Galician: bichoco — small crawling animal such as a spider, insect or worm
  • Galician: besbello — small crawling animal such as a spider, insect or worm
  • German: Krabbeltier — small crawling animal such as a spider, insect or worm
  • German: Krabbelviech — small crawling animal such as a spider, insect or worm
  • Greek: μαμούνι (mamoúni) — small crawling animal such as a spider, insect or worm
  • Greek: μαμούδι (mamoúdi) — small crawling animal such as a spider, insect or worm
  • Macedonian: бу́бачка (búbačka) — small crawling animal such as a spider, insect or worm
  • Māori: ngāngara — small crawling animal such as a spider, insect or worm
  • Māori: ngārara — small crawling animal such as a spider, insect or worm
  • Spanish: bicho — small crawling animal such as a spider, insect or worm
  • Spanish: animalejo — small crawling animal such as a spider, insect or worm
  • Welsh: trychfil — small crawling animal such as a spider, insect or worm