1
as in sneaking
to move about in a sly or secret manner
we caught a glimpse of someone lurking around the corner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in hiding
to remain out of sight
watch out for snakes lurking in the tall grass
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lurking
This indicated not only a black hole lurking at the center of this galaxy but that object was bizarrely rotated at a 90-degree angle to NGC 5084.
—
Robert Lea, Space.com, 20 Dec. 2024
Players who aren’t accustomed to the requirements of this very specific type of multiplayer shooter and the focused way it is meant to be played are just ignoring the objective and running around the map like a headless chicken trying to kill the final player who may be lurking on a point.
—Echo Apsey, Rolling Stone, 20 Dec. 2024
The woman, named Maria Jaimes from Cedar Creek, Texas, sat down on the toilet in the pitch black, only to find a snake lurking in her toilet.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
Only last year, one Texas woman found a rattlesnake lurking in her toilet, and another also found a rat snake poking out from the U-bend.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
Season 5 of You is lurking in the shadows.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 19 Dec. 2024
The way Madison leans into Ani’s audacity while revealing the fragile façade, the vulnerabilities and self-deception lurking underneath, is phenomenal.
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024
There are teams like the Cincinnati Reds lurking as well.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024
There was a tun, boisterous movie lurking inside Bicentennial Man.
—Kirk Honeycutt, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Dec. 2024
Robert Lea, Space.com, 20 Dec. 2024
Players who aren’t accustomed to the requirements of this very specific type of multiplayer shooter and the focused way it is meant to be played are just ignoring the objective and running around the map like a headless chicken trying to kill the final player who may be lurking on a point.
—Echo Apsey, Rolling Stone, 20 Dec. 2024
The woman, named Maria Jaimes from Cedar Creek, Texas, sat down on the toilet in the pitch black, only to find a snake lurking in her toilet.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
Only last year, one Texas woman found a rattlesnake lurking in her toilet, and another also found a rat snake poking out from the U-bend.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
Season 5 of You is lurking in the shadows.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 19 Dec. 2024
The way Madison leans into Ani’s audacity while revealing the fragile façade, the vulnerabilities and self-deception lurking underneath, is phenomenal.
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024
There are teams like the Cincinnati Reds lurking as well.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024
There was a tun, boisterous movie lurking inside Bicentennial Man.
—Kirk Honeycutt, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lurking
Verb
-
Damage to churches and mosques Israel accuses Hezbollah of hiding weapons and fighters in religious and cultural sites.Lauren Frayer, NPR, 23 Dec. 2024
-
Damage to churches and mosques Israel accuses Hezbollah of hiding weapons and fighters in religious and cultural sites.Lauren Frayer, NPR, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Thanks to the film’s costume designer Arianne Phillips, the star is a total dead-ringer for Dylan on the big screen, slipping into his effortlessly-cool wardrobe of Levi’s flares, leather blazers, and silk shirts.Christian Allaire, Vogue, 24 Dec. 2024
-
Taylor also struggled as a receiver out of the backfield, slipping once and dropping two passes, one of which the Dolphins nearly turned into an interception.Matt Barrows, The Athletic, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Some policing experts say that, properly used, the method can elicit truth from criminals who are lying.Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 23 Dec. 2024
-
And many training companies operating in California now advise against long interrogations and a reliance on lying and manipulation — though lying still remains a tactic police are allowed to use.Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 23 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near lurking
Cite this Entry
“Lurking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lurking. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share