Word
creepy
US/ˈkɹipi/
UK/kɹˈiːpi/
Definitions
01scary or unsettling
B1 · Intermediate Informal
adj. making you feel nervous or scared, like the feeling of something crawling on your skin.
adj. producing a sensation of unease or fear, often associated with the macabre or the supernatural.
“The old house at the end of the street looks really creepy at night.”
“The abandoned asylum had a creepy atmosphere that made the urban explorers regret their decision to enter after midnight.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02socially inappropriate
B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal
adj. causing discomfort because of strange, dishonest, or unwanted behavior.
adj. eliciting repulsion or discomfort through eccentric, intrusive, or socially inappropriate behavior.
“He kept staring at me in a creepy way, so I moved to another seat.”
“The manager's habit of standing too close to employees was widely regarded as creepy and unprofessional.”
Synonyms
03sexually inappropriate
B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal
adj. making someone feel unsafe or uncomfortable through unwanted sexual attention.
adj. specifically denoting behavior that is perceived as sexually predatory or inappropriately suggestive.
“She blocked him because he kept sending her creepy messages late at night.”
“The witness described a creepy individual who had been loitering near the park entrance and making suggestive comments to passersby.”
Synonyms
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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