1
as in excitable
easily excited by nature
the skittish colt leapt up when we approached
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in timid
easily frightened
the cat is skittish around people she doesn't know
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of skittish
But injuries limited him to just 31 games in his junior and senior seasons, no doubt making the B’s skittish about signing him.
—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
20 May 2026
These dour trends align with what economically skittish Americans told pollsters who create the Conference Board’s consumer confidence index.
—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
18 May 2026
But if studios arrive feeling skittish about spending money, not even that famous French sunshine will heat up an ice cold marketplace.
—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
12 May 2026
The staff manning the cart periodically struck the metal tops of the bottles of Clase Azul, a flourish that caused a few jumps among the more skittish attendees.
—
Aidan McLaughlin,
Vanity Fair,
26 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for skittish
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
20 May 2026
These dour trends align with what economically skittish Americans told pollsters who create the Conference Board’s consumer confidence index.
—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
18 May 2026
But if studios arrive feeling skittish about spending money, not even that famous French sunshine will heat up an ice cold marketplace.
—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
12 May 2026
The staff manning the cart periodically struck the metal tops of the bottles of Clase Azul, a flourish that caused a few jumps among the more skittish attendees.
—
Aidan McLaughlin,
Vanity Fair,
26 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for skittish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skittish
Adjective
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The studio released the official trailer for the film on Thursday, showing Edgar-Jones as the formidable Elinor Dashwood; Esmé Creed-Miles as her excitable sister, Marianne; and Bodhi Rae Breathnach as their youngest sibling, Margaret.
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The excitable kids had been instructed several times to give Bryce Young room.
Adjective
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Playing Mary Bennet — Elizabeth’s younger and more timid sister — Bruccoleri set out to portray the coming of age story of a Regency woman.
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Don’t be timid; get the crust good and wet before proceeding.
Adjective
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Gonzalo Fuentes | Reuters Global stock markets have been volatile as investors continue to assess geopolitical risks in the Middle East, fundamentals and valuations of companies in the artificial intelligence (AI) market and key economic data.
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The crisis started after officials responded to GKN’s Garden Grove facility on May 21 and soon realized a volatile chemical tank was at risk of exploding or causing a major spill.
Adjective
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Oprah selected it for her book club; at her compound in Montecito, Whitehead was so nervous that her staff insisted on blow-drying the damp patches of his dress shirt before they were introduced.
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The low unemployment rate had made many economists nervous, including some on the Fed.
Adjective
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This unpredictable chaos, fueled by technological glitches and administrative issues, is worsening as peak summer travel begins.
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However, construction zones are inherently unpredictable.
Cite this Entry
“Skittish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skittish. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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