# creepy

/ˈkɹipi/ (US) · /kɹˈiːpi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/creepy
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. scary or unsettling

adjective · CEFR B1 · Informal

making you feel nervous or scared, like the feeling of something crawling on your skin.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. socially inappropriate

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

causing discomfort because of strange, dishonest, or unwanted behavior.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. sexually inappropriate

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

making someone feel unsafe or uncomfortable through unwanted sexual attention.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The old basement feels a bit creepy at night.
- He stopped going to that park because a creepy man kept following him and asking personal questions.
- The director uses long, silent shots of the empty hallways to create a creepy atmosphere that keeps the audience in a state of constant tension.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.