The phrase "creeps up" can be used to describe something that gradually and slowly materializes or appears. Alternative synonyms for this phrase include loom, emerge, surface, appear, and materialize. These words convey a similar connotation and are often used interchangeably to describe the gradual process by which something becomes noticeable or becomes an important factor in a situation. Whether used to describe a feeling, an idea, or a physical object, these synonyms all emphasize the slow, gradual, and often subtle nature of the process by which something creeps up.