1
as in excitable
easily excited by nature
the skittish colt leapt up when we approached
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in timid
easily frightened
the cat is skittish around people she doesn't know
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3
as in volatile
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly
a skittish housing market had both buyers and sellers on edge
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of skittish
During his recent travels, Beehler encountered skittish whimbrels in Churchill and deliberately foraging whimbrels in Alaska.
—
Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Apr. 2025
Cats in particular, with their solitary and skittish ways, can also teach them patience.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
Investors are skittish, and animation, with its long timelines and high upfront costs, needs predictable ground to thrive.
—Callum McLennan, Variety, 10 May 2025
Plus, if skittish tourists book fewer rooms in the existing Hampton Inn and Marriott hotels, the city could lose out on tax revenue, McMillin said in a statement.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for skittish
Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Apr. 2025
Cats in particular, with their solitary and skittish ways, can also teach them patience.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
Investors are skittish, and animation, with its long timelines and high upfront costs, needs predictable ground to thrive.
—Callum McLennan, Variety, 10 May 2025
Plus, if skittish tourists book fewer rooms in the existing Hampton Inn and Marriott hotels, the city could lose out on tax revenue, McMillin said in a statement.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for skittish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skittish
Adjective
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Anyone familiar with the world of the Grateful Dead knows that one of the band’s most devoted and excitable fans was the late Bill Walton, the illustrious Hall of Fame NBA center who died in May 2024 at 71.—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
15 May 2025
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Groups of excitable teenage boys waited their turn to play EA FC on a bank of massive flat screen TVs.—
James Montague,
New York Times,
18 May 2025
Adjective
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The confident smile the until then timid Giulio wears on his face as a result is equally cliched.—
Tomris Laffly,
Variety,
25 May 2025
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The slope of that ramp makes Pike’s Peak look timid.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 May 2025
Adjective
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Rising prices, fomenting trade wars, and uncertainty about when tariffs will go into effect has led to a volatile economic climate.—
Boone Ashworth,
Wired News,
4 June 2025
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The fire had to feel alive, volatile, and credible—a force the actors had to confront in real time.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
4 June 2025
Adjective
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The video highlighted how visibly nervous Jessie was while using jokes to get through the show.—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
6 June 2025
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There’s nothing to be nervous about going into a spray tan.—
Catharine Malzahn,
Glamour,
5 June 2025
Adjective
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As the Republican Party braces for aftershocks from President Donald Trump’s spectacular clash with Elon Musk, lawmakers and conservative figures are urging détente, fearful of the potential consequences from a prolonged feud.—
Chris Megerian,
Chicago Tribune,
6 June 2025
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That has put greater attention on the employment data, with investors fearful that upcoming reports will start to show consumers and businesses crumbling under the weight of tariffs.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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As federal environmental policy undergoes rapid and often unpredictable shifts through reversals, reinterpretations and sometimes outright dismantling, businesses are left navigating a compliance landscape that feels more like quicksand than solid ground.—
John F. McQuillan,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
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John Daly and Tiger Woods share a legendary and unpredictable bond.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Skittish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skittish. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.
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