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

But investors are so skittish that a recent viral blog post imagining a bleak AI future was enough to spark a selloff. —semafor.com, 25 Feb. 2026

When a whitefish would circle our jigs, a loud crack would scare the skittish fish away. —Robert Annis, Outside, 24 Feb. 2026

But after years of contraction, shrinking pre-sales and skittish buyers, there was a sense at EFM, a cautious, qualified sense, that the worst may be over. —Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 19 Feb. 2026

Donors get skittish during times of uncertainty. —Helmut Paul, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026

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