Creep Meaning and Definition
Crep
Pronunciation
/krɛp/
Part of Speech
Noun
Definition
A person who is annoying, obnoxious, or unpleasant; a pest or annoyance.
Examples
- The creep who always lingers too close behind you makes you feel uncomfortable.
- He’s always trying to insert himself into conversations and comes across as a creep.
Synonyms
- Peskin
- Fopdoodle
Antonyms
- Charmer
- Charm
Etymology
The word “creep” originated in the 14th century from the Middle English word “crepen”, which meant “to crawl” or “to move stealthily”. It later evolved into its modern meaning, describing someone who is annoying or unpleasant.
Usage Notes
When using the word “creep”, be mindful of the context and the company you’re in. It’s generally considered impolite to use this term to describe someone in a situation where it could be perceived as offensive or hurtful.
Cultural References
The word “creep” has been used in several cultural references, including the title of the 1996 album “Creep” by the band Radiohead and the 2004 film “Creep” starring Mark Duplass.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
“To creep someone out” means to make someone feel uneasy or uncomfortable. For example, “The horror movie crept me out.”
Related Words or Phrases
- Pest
- Menace
Collocations
- Crep out of the corner of my eye
- The creep factor in the story was high
Frequency of Use
The word “creep” is relatively rare in modern language, but it can still be found in common usage.
Common Misspellings
Crap, Creep