skittish

adjective

skit·​tish ˈski-tish 

1

a

: lively or frisky in action : capricious

b

: variable, fluctuating

2

: easily frightened : restive

a skittish horse

3

a

: coy, bashful

b

: marked by extreme caution : wary

skittish investors

skittishly adverb

skittishness noun

Synonyms

• excitable
• nervous

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

Usually, Loncar said, the owls in her backyard are skittish, but this owlet was slow. —Austin Corona, AZCentral.com, 6 Aug. 2025

Things like doorbell sounds, car horns, or human faces more often triggered reactions in skittish pets. —Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 17 July 2025

Next came episode 5, when Harry had to tell his skittish wife that he had been diagnosed with cancer. —Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 5 July 2025

Not Planting Perimeter Screen Cover Deer are skittish critters. —Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 26 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from skit- (probably from Old Norse skyt-) + -ish

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for skittish

• british

Kids Definition

skittish

adjective

skit·​tish ˈskit-ish 

1

: lively or frisky in action

2

: easily frightened : restive

a skittish horse

3

: bashful

skittishly adverb

skittishness noun