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
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
Testifying in his own defense, Tyler said Wofford pointed a gun at him, her finger on the trigger, hands slightly shaking and eyes darting.
—Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
The singer-songwriter’s second album spotlights her wayward, darting mind and steadily droning guitar, with help from a constellation of fellow indie rockers from New York City and the Hudson Valley.
—Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 3 Mar. 2026
The letter writer doesn’t bother to research to see if deer birth control is in existence, but those currently in use in the United States involve darting or injecting females to trigger antibodies that prevent pregnancy.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 24 Feb. 2026
Blennies and gobies are tiring to look at, darting every which way above.
—Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026
The Meta boss appeared in a dark suit and gray tie, his signature chestnut curls slightly mussed, darting occasional nervous looks at the jury and the 20-year-old plaintiff, who sat in the courtroom gallery.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
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
Testifying in his own defense, Tyler said Wofford pointed a gun at him, her finger on the trigger, hands slightly shaking and eyes darting.
—Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
The singer-songwriter’s second album spotlights her wayward, darting mind and steadily droning guitar, with help from a constellation of fellow indie rockers from New York City and the Hudson Valley.
—Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 3 Mar. 2026
The letter writer doesn’t bother to research to see if deer birth control is in existence, but those currently in use in the United States involve darting or injecting females to trigger antibodies that prevent pregnancy.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 24 Feb. 2026
Blennies and gobies are tiring to look at, darting every which way above.
—Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026
The Meta boss appeared in a dark suit and gray tie, his signature chestnut curls slightly mussed, darting occasional nervous looks at the jury and the 20-year-old plaintiff, who sat in the courtroom gallery.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for darting
Verb
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Jacir wants to show a cross section of people’s responses to these events, but the result often feels like scattershot scenes from a longer miniseries, flitting from one character to another with little narrative thrust or cohesion.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
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Fittingly, Daniel Pemberton’s score has that same sense of free-ranging curiosity, flitting between genres at will.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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October marks the start of butterfly season, with vibrant swarms fluttering well into the green season.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The sudden movement sends the birds fluttering away from you, to watch and wait.—
Addie Citchens,
New Yorker,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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From there, a user named Vega turned it into a TikTok dance video that exploded — people duplicating themselves on screen, one version performing, the other dancing behind them.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
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One scene shows the comedian, dressed in a white suit, dancing on a stage in front of a crowd as sparklers go off.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA Today,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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 30 Mar. 2026.
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