1
a
: lively or frisky in action : capricious
b
2
: easily frightened : restive
a skittish horse
skittishly
adverb
skittishness
noun
Synonyms
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
For instance, some rabbits are skittish and only want to be admired from afar, and a few Tibetan yaks that were rescued from a meat farm aren’t quite ready to mingle with guests.
—
Graham Averill, Outside Online, 19 Aug. 2024
Hummingbirds aren't skittish, offering bird enthusiasts a close-up view of their furiously beating wings.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 13 Aug. 2024
Teenage elder Salvador, who’s lost one leg below the knee under circumstances that remain mysterious for a while, has appointed himself the tough-loving patriarch, an authority that does not go unquestioned by his alternately squeamish, skittish and impatient younger siblings.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 7 Aug. 2024
Barley's original owners posted about the missing pet, who happens to be skittish (or easily scared), on Facebook and even made several 10-hour drives to the campsite to keep searching.
—Marina Watts, Peoplemag, 6 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for skittish 
Graham Averill, Outside Online, 19 Aug. 2024
Hummingbirds aren't skittish, offering bird enthusiasts a close-up view of their furiously beating wings.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 13 Aug. 2024
Teenage elder Salvador, who’s lost one leg below the knee under circumstances that remain mysterious for a while, has appointed himself the tough-loving patriarch, an authority that does not go unquestioned by his alternately squeamish, skittish and impatient younger siblings.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 7 Aug. 2024
Barley's original owners posted about the missing pet, who happens to be skittish (or easily scared), on Facebook and even made several 10-hour drives to the campsite to keep searching.
—Marina Watts, Peoplemag, 6 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for skittish
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'skittish.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near skittish
Cite this Entry
“Skittish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skittish. Accessed 10 Sep. 2024.
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