1
a
: lively or frisky in action : capricious
b
2
: easily frightened : restive
a skittish horse
skittishly
adverb
skittishness
noun
Examples of skittish in a Sentence
We've been skittish about taking on such a large mortgage.
the skittish colt leapt up when we approached
Recent Examples on the Web
Setting Dani’s debut in motion: When an undercover FBI agent was killed in the field, Jubal’s team made the unnerving discovery that the identities of multiple UCs have been compromised — including Maggie, who had just infiltrated an increasingly skittish eco-terrorist group.
—
Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 2 Apr. 2025
Forest elephants are critically endangered, and decades of poaching has left them skittish—sometimes dangerously so.
—Chris Schalkx, Travel + Leisure, 16 Mar. 2025
Still, at a time companies are already skittish about going public amid market volatility, the downbeat offering doesn’t give much assurance.
—Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
The president faced an impatient nation that is skittish over his imposition of 25% tariffs on foreign allies, which may raise everyday costs.
—Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for skittish
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Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 2 Apr. 2025
Forest elephants are critically endangered, and decades of poaching has left them skittish—sometimes dangerously so.
—Chris Schalkx, Travel + Leisure, 16 Mar. 2025
Still, at a time companies are already skittish about going public amid market volatility, the downbeat offering doesn’t give much assurance.
—Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
The president faced an impatient nation that is skittish over his imposition of 25% tariffs on foreign allies, which may raise everyday costs.
—Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for skittish
Cite this Entry
“Skittish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skittish. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
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