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Glite Dictionary
creepy-crawlies

creepy-crawlies

7.9
A feeling of nervous discomfort when something feels unpleasant or scary
  • noun
  • /ˈkripi ˈkrɔliz/
  • Informal
translation icon : repelús
  • I always get the creepy-crawlies when I see spiders.

Examples

  • The old abandoned house gave me the creepy-crawlies whenever I walked by.

  • Watching that horror movie late at night gave me the creepy-crawlies for hours.

  • Just thinking about spiders gives my sister the creepy-crawlies.

  • The thought of bugs gives me the creepy-crawlies!

  • I get the creepy-crawlies just thinking about the haunted forest at night.

  • The thought of touching slimy worms gives me the creepy-crawlies.

  • When I heard the eerie sounds in the dark, I felt a wave of creepy-crawlies run down my spine.

Synonyms

unease
vscreepy-crawlies
19 4.4

A feeling of worry and not being relaxed

is often caused by unpleasant or frightening things rather than neutral worry
creepiness
vscreepy-crawlies
4 5.3

An unpleasant feeling of fear or unease, like insects crawling on your skin

is broader anxiety from many causes not only tactile sensations
willies
vscreepy-crawlies
  • Informal
1 8.8

A strong nervous feeling that makes you uncomfortable

is milder unease or anxiety rather than a strong frightening reaction
creepies
vscreepy-crawlies
  • Informal
8.9

A nervous, uncomfortable feeling caused by something scary or strange

is a general anxious feeling not only tied to spooky causes
creeps
vscreepy-crawlies
  • Informal
5.2

A feeling of fear and dislike when you see something strange or scary

is a general discomfort or anxiety without strong revulsion element

Antonyms

comfort
190 1.0

A feeling of physical ease and being free from pain

calm
52 1.0

A quiet, peaceful feeling that helps you stay steady

How Unsettling

revulsion
18 6.3
creeps
  • Informal
5.2
creepy-crawlies
  • Informal
7.9
unease
19 4.4
nervousness
36 2.7

Surface Forms

creepy-crawlies singular
creepy-crawlies plural

Morphology

creepy-crawlies = creepy + crawly (semi-transparent) = creepy + crawly

Formed as a hyphenated compound that literally evokes 'creepy' + 'crawling' creatures; the noun sense 'a feeling of discomfort' is an idiomatic extension from those creatures and may not be fully predictable to learners.

Etymology

The word creepy-crawlies comes from two words, creep ('move slowly') and crawl ('move on hands or stomach'), and it was used for small insects and bugs that make people feel uneasy. So today creepy-crawlies often means the 'feeling of discomfort' you get when something looks or feels unpleasant.