crawly
Like creeping insects
Crawly describes a sensation of things creeping on or under the skin—the feeling of insects moving where none exist.
The word captures both physical sensation and psychological unease: The horror movie left me feeling crawly.
Something crawly provokes that skin-prickling discomfort: crawly bugs, a crawly sensation up my spine.
Small colonial insect
- beetleHard-winged insect
- caterpillarMoth or butterfly young
- centipedeMulti-segmented, many-legged predator
- millipedeMulti-segmented leggy invertebrate
cockroach · spider · earwig · silverfish · larva · grub · maggot · worm
Moving slowly, stealthily
- slitheringSmooth limbless locomotion
- squirmingTwisting restlessly from discomfort
- wrigglingTwisting with short movements
- scuttlingHasty, low scurrying motion
skittering · scurrying · inching · snaking · writhing · undulating · slow · deliberate
ant
Small colonial insect
- beetleHard-winged insect
- caterpillarMoth or butterfly young
- centipedeMulti-segmented, many-legged predator
millipede · cockroach · spider · earwig · silverfish · larva · grub · maggot · worm · slug
creeping
Moving slowly, stealthily
- slitheringSmooth limbless locomotion
- squirmingTwisting restlessly from discomfort
- wrigglingTwisting with short movements
scuttling · skittering · scurrying · inching · snaking · writhing · undulating · slow · deliberate · stealthy
goosebumps
Raised skin from cold
creeping · squirming · wriggling · itchy · scratchy · ticklish · unsettling · eerie · spooky · chills
swarm
Mass of moving insects
vermin · plague · pestilence · invasion · creeping · squirming · wriggling · swarming · scuttling · skittering
- Insect Traitssix-legged, winged, antennae, exoskeleton, segmented
- elongated creaturesearthworm, eel, snake, serpent, worm
crawlysoothing
Reducing distress or discomfort
smooth · comfortable · calming · pleasant · silky
crawlycomforting
Giving emotional ease
reassuring · soothing · cozy · inviting · welcoming
- crawl spaceShallow area under a house
- bar crawlSequential drinking establishment visits
- creepy crawlySmall unsettling creature
- creepy crawlersInsects and similar creatures
- crawl over each otherMove by climbing companions
- pub crawlSequential tavern visits
crawl, crawling, crawled, crawler, crawlers, crawliest, crawlspace, crawlier