The baby began to crawl.
Source: tatoeba (45867)
Crawl
/kɹɔːl/
Synonyms for "crawl" (235 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (47)
aboundall foursambleandanteaquaplaningaquaticsaustralian crawlbackstrokebalneationbathebathingbend the kneeblisterbootlickbowbow and scrapebreaststrokebristlebutterflycastigate
Show 10 more words
Strong matches (71)
Related words (117)
lie prostratelie underlimplingerlinger onlollloungelumbering pacemincing stepsmoseynatationnightwalknightwalkingpadpaddingpassplodpokepoke alongprostrate
Show 72 more words
prowlprowlingpullulatepussyfootpussyfootingrackreclinereposeroastsaunterscathescorchscrabblescrambleshambleshuffleshuffle alongsidestrokesidlesidlingslamslateslideslinkslinkingslouchslow marchslow motionsnakesnakingsneaksneakingsprawlsquatsquirmstagger alongstealsteal alongstealingstoopstrollsurfboardingsurfingswarmswimswimmingtarryteemtippytoetiptoetiptoeingtoadeattoadytoddletoddle alongtottertotter alongtraipsetreading watertruckletrudgeunderliewaddlewadingwalkwaterskiingwear onwigglewormworm alongwormingwriggle
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: creep, creep, front crawl, abound, all fours.
- Sentence evidence is available for crawl, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, wiktionary, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "crawl".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "crawl"
Keep "crawl" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "crawl" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "crawl", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "crawl" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
21 entriesShowing 16 of 21 words.
More specific
11 entriesCollocations
9 entriesarmy crawlbaby crawlbear crawlcrawl motioncrawl patterncrawl ratecrawl spacefront crawlweb crawl
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
3 entriesSample sentences
26 total sentences available.
Can you do the crawl?
Source: tatoeba (62756)
I'm so sorry about what I did. I wish I could just crawl into a hole and die.
Source: tatoeba (65849)
I'm so embarrassed I could dig a hole and crawl into it.
Source: tatoeba (238578)
Showing 4 of 26 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "crawl"?
Closest matches include creep, creep, front crawl, abound, all fours.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "crawl"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.