creepy

Pronunciation: /ˈkriːpi/ (IPA), KREE-pee (American)

Origin: From Middle English crepen (to creep) + -y

Part of Speech: Adjective

Meanings:

1. Causing an unpleasant feeling of fear or unease
2. Producing a sensation of crawling on one's skin
3. Behaving in a way that causes discomfort or fear in others

Example Sentences:

1. The old abandoned house looked creepy in the moonlight.
2. His creepy stare made everyone at the party uncomfortable.
3. There's something creepy about the way that doll's eyes seem to follow you.

Related Words:

• Verb: creep
• Noun: creepiness
• Adverb: creepily
• Synonyms: eerie, spooky, uncanny, sinister, unsettling

Memorization Trick: Think of a "creepy" spider creeping up your arm, causing your skin to crawl. The word "creepy" contains "creep," reminding you of its connection to things that move in an unsettling way or cause discomfort.