What does crawly mean?
"Crawly" is an informal English adjective describing something that produces an uncomfortable, prickling sensation — as though insects were moving across the skin. It is most often applied to places, atmospheres, or people that feel subtly wrong or menacing: a dim corridor might feel crawly, as might a stranger's unblinking stare. The word derives from "crawl," capturing the physical image behind the emotion — the instinctive shudder humans experience when disgusted or frightened. Related to but distinct from "creepy," which carries similar connotations, "crawly" tends to emphasize the bodily reaction more than the threat itself. It appears frequently in casual conversation, horror writing, and descriptions of haunted or decayed spaces. Because it is colloquial, it suits informal narrative and spoken English more than formal prose, where terms like "eerie" or "unnerving" are preferred. Its vividness makes it a useful word for conveying instinctive, physical unease.
adjective(Informal) Causing an unpleasant sensation like something crawling on the skin; eerie or creepy. Also describes a feeling of one's skin crawling from fear or disgust.
- Causing or marked by a sensation like things crawling on the skin; creepy, unsettling.
"The abandoned house had a crawly atmosphere that made us want to leave immediately."
"There was something crawly about the way he kept staring without saying a word."
"The damp cellar gave her a crawly feeling the moment she stepped inside."
That prickling 'something's crawling on me' feeling has its own word — and it's older than you might think.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of crawly
"Crawly" is formed from the verb "crawl," which descends from Middle English "crullen" or "krullen" (to curl or claw along), likely of North Germanic origin and related to words for creeping movement. The adjectival form arose to describe things that evoke the sensation of crawling on the skin. Its closest relative in meaning and origin is "creep" and its derivative "creepy."
Related word forms
How crawly is actually used
Informal register, common in everyday speech and fiction rather than formal writing. Often used of places, people, or atmospheres that provoke instinctive unease.
Easily confused with crawly
'Crawl' is a verb meaning to move slowly on hands and knees, while 'crawly' is an adjective describing something that evokes that creeping, skin-prickling sensation.