as in huddling
to lie low with the limbs close to the body
the cat crouched in the bushes, waiting for the right moment to pounce on the chipmunk
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of crouching
Joining the two this year is a 5-foot pussycat, which comes poised to pounce in a crouching position with adjustable glowing eyes.
—
Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2025
In footage shared by the AP, the leopard was seen crouching on the ground next to the boy's vehicle before chasing the car and leaping at the window.
—Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Even crouching behind the catcher at home plate came with a series of details for students to master.
—Becky Sullivan, NPR, 13 Aug. 2025
Excavations unearthed priceless statues and reliefs, including depictions of crouching lions and a youthful male figure.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 14 Dec. 2024
This may include defensive movements or acting submissively—tucking their tail between their legs, lowering their eyes or crouching to appear smaller.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
At last month’s hearing, prosecutors played surveillance footage from Mullins’ chambers that appeared to show the judge crouching behind his desk as a man identified as Stines shoots him multiple times.
—Dakin Andone, CNN, 25 Nov. 2024
That will provide standing space for children, though, and will provide adults a little more headroom for crouching, whether to grab something out of the alcove, get changed, or otherwise stand on two feet inside.
—New Atlas, 10 Oct. 2024
Photos recently went viral of students crouching beneath their desks during a police operation on a nearby boulevard, where fleeing suspects tossed spikes onto the streets to puncture the tires of National Guard vehicles chasing them.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 9 Oct. 2024
Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2025
In footage shared by the AP, the leopard was seen crouching on the ground next to the boy's vehicle before chasing the car and leaping at the window.
—Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Even crouching behind the catcher at home plate came with a series of details for students to master.
—Becky Sullivan, NPR, 13 Aug. 2025
Excavations unearthed priceless statues and reliefs, including depictions of crouching lions and a youthful male figure.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 14 Dec. 2024
This may include defensive movements or acting submissively—tucking their tail between their legs, lowering their eyes or crouching to appear smaller.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
At last month’s hearing, prosecutors played surveillance footage from Mullins’ chambers that appeared to show the judge crouching behind his desk as a man identified as Stines shoots him multiple times.
—Dakin Andone, CNN, 25 Nov. 2024
That will provide standing space for children, though, and will provide adults a little more headroom for crouching, whether to grab something out of the alcove, get changed, or otherwise stand on two feet inside.
—New Atlas, 10 Oct. 2024
Photos recently went viral of students crouching beneath their desks during a police operation on a nearby boulevard, where fleeing suspects tossed spikes onto the streets to puncture the tires of National Guard vehicles chasing them.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 9 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crouching
Verb
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Stanford spent most of Saturday’s game under center, huddling and using multiple tight-end sets.—
Stewart Mandel,
New York Times,
24 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Your back hurts from hunching over your laptop.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
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While squatting weight in high school gym class, Welch, 18, felt his right knee become uncomfortable.—
Angelina Liu,
People.com,
22 Aug. 2025
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Stooping is easier than squatting, and humans tend to choose the more comfortable strategy.—
Payal Dhar,
IEEE Spectrum,
10 Sep. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Crouching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crouching. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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