as in to flit
to make an irregular series of quick, sudden movements
the birds flittered back and forth between the backyard feeder and the safety of the trees
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flitter
For the past few weeks, swarms of the diminutive insects have been seen flittering en masse through parks and backyards across the Bay Area.
—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
26 May 2026
Here’s a look at what’s been behind the market’s surprising strength:
What sets a stock’s price
Stock prices flitter up and down every second for myriad reasons, many of which no one can explain.
—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Apr. 2026
But there was also a significant contingent from DR Congo, resplendent in light blue, their flags flittering in the afternoon breeze.
—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
31 Mar. 2026
Acknowledging that the debt-forgiveness fairy isn’t flittering in the wings on graduation day calls for careful assessment of college plans, dreams, and reality.
—
Boston Herald Editorial Staff,
Boston Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Black and gold flags flitter in the wind in Brackenridge, Pennsylvania, attached to homes with a Terrible Towel likely somewhere inside.
—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
10 Dec. 2025
His neuroses flitter around him like fireflies.
—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
24 Oct. 2025
Too many famous names flitter in and out of Selected Letters to list them all, but here is a small sampling: John Cheever, Erica Jong, Roger Angell, Norman Mailer, Italo Calvino, George Plimpton, Karl Shapiro, Lorrie Moore, Cynthia Ozick, Tina Brown, Kurt Vonnegut, Ian McEwan.
—
Adrienne Lafrance,
The Atlantic,
24 Oct. 2025
There might be a butterfly flittering about barren aspen trunks.
—
Ray Mark Rinaldi,
Denver Post,
28 Apr. 2025
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
26 May 2026
Here’s a look at what’s been behind the market’s surprising strength:
What sets a stock’s price
Stock prices flitter up and down every second for myriad reasons, many of which no one can explain.
—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Apr. 2026
But there was also a significant contingent from DR Congo, resplendent in light blue, their flags flittering in the afternoon breeze.
—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
31 Mar. 2026
Acknowledging that the debt-forgiveness fairy isn’t flittering in the wings on graduation day calls for careful assessment of college plans, dreams, and reality.
—
Boston Herald Editorial Staff,
Boston Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Black and gold flags flitter in the wind in Brackenridge, Pennsylvania, attached to homes with a Terrible Towel likely somewhere inside.
—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
10 Dec. 2025
His neuroses flitter around him like fireflies.
—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
24 Oct. 2025
Too many famous names flitter in and out of Selected Letters to list them all, but here is a small sampling: John Cheever, Erica Jong, Roger Angell, Norman Mailer, Italo Calvino, George Plimpton, Karl Shapiro, Lorrie Moore, Cynthia Ozick, Tina Brown, Kurt Vonnegut, Ian McEwan.
—
Adrienne Lafrance,
The Atlantic,
24 Oct. 2025
There might be a butterfly flittering about barren aspen trunks.
—
Ray Mark Rinaldi,
Denver Post,
28 Apr. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flitter
Verb
-
Another trio flitted about the main kitchen.
-
Within moments, someone pointed out a starling flitting across the hazy sky.
Verb
-
This type dispenses altogether with nest-building and partnering and simply darts around squirting.
-
My eyes darted back and forth, trying to grasp the imposing silhouette in its entirety.
Verb
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Since most butterflies live a short time, fluttering between colorful flowers for a few weeks before dying, a few rare exceptions have stumped scientists.
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Dozens of butterflies, likely variable checkerspots with hints of yellow and red on their wings, fluttered all around.
Cite this Entry
“Flitter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flitter. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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