crawled

verb

past tense of crawl
1
as in crept
to move slowly with the body close to the ground the time we had to crawl through a narrow passageway from one cave to another

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in dragged
to move slowly the weekend traffic on the road to the beach just crawled

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in lingered
to move or act slowly the deadline is fast approaching, so this is no time to crawl

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in buzzed
to be copiously supplied something must be up, as city hall is crawling with reporters

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of crawled One roach crawled on glassware in the dishwashing area and eight were under the dishwasher. — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026 The mural is as if the octopus crawled out of the large vase filled with water and flowers and is helping to feed the birds. — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026 Seconds later, the huge bear crawled through the broken window and made its escape. — Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026 To compile as comprehensive a list as possible, Szydlowski crawled Instagram and Reddit for photos of people wearing different types of smart glasses. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 21 Aug. 2026 As the whole team fought for their lives, Yerman, one of the only Marines with relatively minor wounds, crawled over to Capers. — Ethan Rocke, Charlotte Observer, 20 Aug. 2026 Additionally, the platforms are designed to be crawled by the world's largest search engines right out of the box. — Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 16 Aug. 2026 And imagine the bear, cornered in an unfamiliar lair, seeing the light of the only exit blocked by this larger attacker that did not howl or bark, but crawled silently toward him through the addled dogs. — Paul Schullery, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026 Primus crawled from the same California soup that gave birth to a host of funk-metal acts in the 1980s, following Fishbone, Faith No More, and, most infamously, the Red Hot Chili Peppers. — Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 2 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crawled
  1. crept
  2. dragged
  3. lingered
  4. buzzed
  5. slid
  6. shuffled
  7. delayed
  8. burst
Verb
  • Tech has crept into every facet of everyday life, like an invisible fog of ones and zeros.
    — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The height of this strategy shift was the Sneak Attack by Roger (SABR), in which Federer crept forward to return opponent’s serves almost on the half volley, shortening points and taking away time from his opponent.
    — Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of crept
Verb
  • The winter chill that dragged digital assets down during most of the hot summer months is finally beginning to lift, with the price of Bitcoin surging about 20 percent last week, its strongest three-day rally since 2023.
    — Peter Mintzberg, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
  • In 2024, Burke’s squad dragged itself off the mat after an awful (yet at the time, typical) start to the season to go unbeaten in 12 of 13 matches down the stretch and narrowly miss the playoffs.
    — Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of dragged
Verb
  • Tagovailoa on return, boos Falcons and former Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who was greeted with boos during Friday’s preseason game, lingered on the field afterward to embrace several former teammates and Dolphins staffers.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Young wound up going 8–5 as a starter and won Offensive Rookie of the Year, but tensions lingered.
    — Nasha Smith, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of lingered
Verb
  • As for Haaland, whose long, pale-blonde hair nabbed countless headlines during the World Cup, buzzed it off and filmed the whole thing for YouTube.
    — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Solitary bees buzzed through the purple flowers of the California aster.
    — Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of buzzed
Verb
  • The debris avalanche, or landslide, slid down 6,000 feet on the slope, the USGS said.
    — Jon Haworth, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Autodesk – The maker of 3D design software slid 5% after its earnings projections disappointed Wall Street.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of slid
Verb
  • Finally, the next season, Karlsson was shuffled frequently between Abbotsford and Vancouver and resided at the fringes of the NHL lineup.
    — Thomas Drance, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Venegas scrolled through his phone while Penna shuffled past us to grab a drink from the office fridge.
    — Christine Terrisse, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of shuffled
Verb
  • Delane’s pro debut was delayed by a shoulder injury suffered in the spring, limiting his practice in OTAs and training camp.
    — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Urgent repair projects will be delayed, construction costs will multiply, and the visitor experience will inevitably decline as facilities fall into disrepair, risking the safety of millions of tourists and residents alike.
    — Lulu Vilas, Sun Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of delayed
Verb
  • Chinese authorities also warned that a barrier lake, which formed at the confluence of the Tsogyal and the Purupqiangzangbu rivers, is overflowing and may burst.
    — Niranjan Shrestha, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Sip local wines like Norton or Vignoles, hop around downtown, or wander through orchards bursting with ripe apples while leaves crunch underfoot.
    — Taryn Shorr-Mckee, Midwest Living, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of burst

Browse Nearby Words

crawl
crawled
crawler
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Cite this Entry

“Crawled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crawled. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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