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 of skittish

• 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

Earlier this year, the Times reported that Gen Z is skittish about opening bar tabs. —Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025

Everyone is welcoming and warm—other than a free-roaming ostrich, curious and slightly surly, which keeps skittish guard over the entire site. —Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 21 Dec. 2025

And, a gamble for any book publisher skittish about the fine ornamental lines disappearing when reduced to postage stamp size online. —Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 11 Dec. 2025

The females tend to be more skittish by nature but hormones drive that. —Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 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