as in flitting
to make an irregular series of quick, sudden movements
the housefly darted about the room until it found an open window and flew out
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Recent Examples of darting
As soon as the door opens, Sadie jumps up to greet Koch before darting off to grab a toy, bounding back toward Koch with her tail still wagging.
—
Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
The confused drivers darting across three lanes to an exit that was there last month, but has now vanished.
—Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
Guards will keep an eye on the ocean creature and in the event of aggressive behavior, such as a shark darting at surfers or swimmers, will implement a temporary beach closure.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
There was the usual assemblage of male and female Anna’s and just a couple of the Allen’s darting out occasionally from the sanctuary of the nearby tree to drink nectar from the hanging feeders.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
This time, my eyes slid to the fresh silver polish on her fingernails, her cascading perm thick but without any undergrowth, and those eyes darting from me to the cop, glistening as if on the verge of pouring.
—Literary Hub, 27 Mar. 2026
Nazar and Bertuzzi failed to convert on a two-on-none breakaway, but Nazar quickly grabbed the loose puck and found a darting Lardis to even the score at 1.
—CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
Everyone’s eyes were darting around the room.
—Big Think, 18 Mar. 2026
Five minutes later, Valverde gets his second — waiting until O’Reilly checks over his right shoulder, then darting in behind on the opposite side, and finishing from Vinicius Junior’s pass.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026
Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
The confused drivers darting across three lanes to an exit that was there last month, but has now vanished.
—Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
Guards will keep an eye on the ocean creature and in the event of aggressive behavior, such as a shark darting at surfers or swimmers, will implement a temporary beach closure.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
There was the usual assemblage of male and female Anna’s and just a couple of the Allen’s darting out occasionally from the sanctuary of the nearby tree to drink nectar from the hanging feeders.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
This time, my eyes slid to the fresh silver polish on her fingernails, her cascading perm thick but without any undergrowth, and those eyes darting from me to the cop, glistening as if on the verge of pouring.
—Literary Hub, 27 Mar. 2026
Nazar and Bertuzzi failed to convert on a two-on-none breakaway, but Nazar quickly grabbed the loose puck and found a darting Lardis to even the score at 1.
—CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
Everyone’s eyes were darting around the room.
—Big Think, 18 Mar. 2026
Five minutes later, Valverde gets his second — waiting until O’Reilly checks over his right shoulder, then darting in behind on the opposite side, and finishing from Vinicius Junior’s pass.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for darting
Verb
-
This commentary was not from a wonkish TikToker nor a network pundit but from TMZ, the merciless purveyor of celebrity dirt, which published the images of Graham after a citizen vacationer noticed the senator flitting through the theme park and sent pictures.—
Paula Mejía,
New Yorker,
15 Apr. 2026
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Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, and Chace Crawford catapulted to fame playing the scheming social butterflies flitting around Gossip Girl's Upper East Side.—
Rachel DeSantis,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Video from the scene hours after the fire first erupted showed ash fluttering through the air and burned paper in the yards of homes across the street from the warehouse.—
Joy Benedict,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
October marks the start of butterfly season, with vibrant swarms fluttering well into the green season.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Suddenly Bieber was dancing around, trading fun glances with his fellow-artists, finally gesturing toward the usually obvious fact that a concert might also be an uncomplicatedly good time.—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
18 Apr. 2026
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Set the scene Arrive by car and enter the hotel’s main driveway to then be greeted by the resort’s grand Florentine Fountain with four sculpted water nymphs dancing around an octagonal pool, a visual amuse bouche to the opulence that awaits.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Maza drew in Hamburg players before flicking the ball on for Kofane, who lashed it into the top-left corner.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2026
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The name Dekopin in Japanese refers to flicking someone on the forehead with a finger, typically as a lighthearted punishment or joke.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Darting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/darting. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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