creepy

From creep +‎ -y.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈkɹiːpi/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• (General American) enPR: krīʹpī, IPA^(key): /ˈkɹipi/
• Rhymes: -iːpi
• Hyphenation: creep‧y

creepy (comparative creepier, superlative creepiest)

1. Moving by creeping along.

   creepy-crawlies

   • 1874–1876 (date written), Lewis Carroll [pseudonym; Charles Lutwidge Dodgson], “Fit the Fit the Fifth.⁠ The Beaver’s Lesson.”, in The Hunting of the Snark […], London: Macmillan and Co., published March 1876, →OCLC:

     The Beaver brought paper, portfolio, pens, / And ink in unfailing supplies: / While strange creepy creatures came out of their dens, / And watched them with wondering eyes.

2. (informal) Producing an uneasy fearful sensation, as of things crawling over one's skin.

   creepy ghosts

3. (informal) Causing discomfort or repulsion due to strange or eccentric behavior.
4. (informal, especially) Causing discomfort through exhibiting sexually inappropriate behavior.

   That creepy old man keeps leering at me!

   • 2022, Scott Bell, Pest Cemetery, page 235:

     "He doesn't look creepy," I said. "Kind of nerdy, in a harmless way.
     "Looks can be deceiving. See that camera? He was always going around with that camera, snapping pictures. Some girls caught him trying to get 'up skirt' shots while they sat at their desks. […]"

5. (informal, uncommon) Feeling an uneasy fearful sensation; creeped out.
   • 1920, Algernon Blackwood, First Hate:

     “I felt creepy and afraid,” continued the other, with conviction. “I had the sensation of being seen by someone—as if someone, I mean, was watching me. […]

• crepey, crêpey

Unadapted borrowing from English creepy.

creepy (comparative creepyer, superlative creepy'st)

1. (informal) creepy (scary or sexually disconcerting)

   Het was daar 's nachts best creepy. ― It was pretty creepy there at night.

   Hij zat de hele tijd creepy naar haar te staren. ― He was staring at her creepily the whole time.

• creep