creakily
Like old hinges
In a creaky manner—with the stiff, groaning sound of old hinges or floorboards: The door swung open creakily.
The word extends to anything that moves or operates with apparent strain or age: The old system creakily adapted to new demands.
With wary caution
- tentativelyWithout full commitment
- cautiouslyIn a guarded manner
- slowlyAt reduced speed
- stifflyIn inflexible manner
laboriously · awkwardly · haltingly · falteringly · unsteadily · shakily · hobbling · shuffling
In times past
worn · dilapidated · ramshackle · deteriorated · rickety · antiquated · moldily · mustily
In a high-pitched way
- gratinglyIn an irritating way
- raspinglyIn a harsh, grating manner
- screechingMaking harsh high sounds
- grindingMolar action sometimes
scraping · rattling · grating · whining · groaning · squeaking · noisily · harshly
Tending to teeter
- shakilyIn trembling manner
- teeteringUnstably balanced, nearly falling
- totteringMoving unsteadily, nearly falling
- precariouslyIn risky unstable manner
unsteadily · tremulously · swaying · rocking · lurching · quivering · wavering · uncertainly
In a persistently unsettling way
- spookilyIn an unsettling manner
- ominouslyIn threatening manner
- ghostlyResembling a specter
- eerilyIn an unsettling manner
atmospherically · chillingly · sinisterly · unnervingly · forebodingly
gingerly
With wary caution
- tentativelyWithout full commitment
- cautiouslyIn a guarded manner
- slowlyAt reduced speed
stiffly · laboriously · awkwardly · haltingly · falteringly · unsteadily · shakily · hobbling · shuffling · lumbering
anciently
In times past
time-worn · worn · dilapidated · ramshackle · deteriorated · rickety · antiquated · moldily · mustily · faded
squeakily
In a high-pitched way
- gratinglyIn an irritating way
- raspinglyIn a harsh, grating manner
- screechingMaking harsh high sounds
grinding · scraping · rattling · grating · whining · groaning · squeaking · noisily · harshly · discordantly
wobbly
Tending to teeter
- shakilyIn trembling manner
- teeteringUnstably balanced, nearly falling
- totteringMoving unsteadily, nearly falling
precariously · unsteadily · tremulously · swaying · rocking · lurching · quivering · wavering · uncertainly · insecurely
hauntingly
In a persistently unsettling way
eerily · atmospherically · chillingly · sinisterly · unnervingly · forebodingly
creakilysilently
Without audible noise
quietly · soundlessly · noiselessly · mutely · inaudibly
creakilysmoothly
Without friction or difficulty
fluidly · effortlessly · gracefully · slickly · seamlessly
- creaking floorsNoisy walking surfaces