creepy

Everyday

1. Strange and frightening in a way that makes you uneasy (a creepy house). tree →
2. (of a person) Making you feel uncomfortable or unsafe because of how they act. tree →
3. (informal) Crawling, like insects (creepy-crawlies). tree →

In the lessons

In stories and Halloween: creepy castles, creepy noises. In safety: if an adult or someone online seems creepy or asks for secrets, tell a trusted adult. Phrases: creepy-crawly (a small insect or spider), give me the creeps.

Examples

• The old house looked creepy in the dark. tree →
• That creepy noise is just the wind. tree →
• Tell an adult if someone online is creepy. tree →
• We found creepy-crawlies under the log. tree →
• The film was a bit too creepy for my brother. tree →
• His smile was kind of creepy. tree →
• What he saw was creepier than creepy, and surpassed all he had ever dreamt of. tree →

Note

Informal. Comparative: creepier, creepiest. A «creep» is an unpleasant person. Trust your feeling: if someone seems creepy, it is OK to leave and tell someone.