flitter

as in to flit
to make an irregular series of quick, sudden movements the birds flittered back and forth between the backyard feeder and the safety of the trees

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of flitter There might be a butterfly flittering about barren aspen trunks. Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 28 Apr. 2025 Ringo was yellow submarines and octopus gardens, the mascot little brother, despite being the eldest Beatle, and the best at flittering above the feuds that afflicted the trio of geniuses around him. Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2025 Coaches and friends flitter in and out. Megan Feringa, The Athletic, 2 Jan. 2025 The unexpected sight of the little orange carp flittering around in a glorified puddle was everywhere, a social-media must-post, a Walden surrounded by concrete at a corner known as the Bed-Stuy Aquarium. The Editors, Curbed, 2 Dec. 2024 As a result Rose flittered on the periphery of the game but was never readmitted to it. Michael Peregrine, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024 Ringo was yellow submarines and octopus gardens, the mascot little brother, despite being the eldest Beatle, and the best at flittering above the feuds that afflicted the trio of geniuses around him. Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2025 Our attention constantly jumps from one flittering speck to the next, and the storm of activity blocks our view of the whole sphere. Oshan Jarow, Vox, 8 Jan. 2025 My eyes gleefully flittered among the many gilded furnishings, opulent light fixtures, and damask wall treatments. Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 7 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flitter
Verb
  • Visitors can fish, swim, and paddle on Lake Shelby, see native flora and fauna at the Nature Center on Middle Lake, and flit around the Butterfly Garden east of Little Lake.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2025
  • Just don’t get too set on a bedtime—the aurora borealis might surprise you by flitting across the sky on a cloudless night.
    Maggie Fuller, AFAR Media, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • McDavid darted around the ice with his usual flair and notched three helpers.
    Daniel Nugent-Bowman, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Vacationers who were camping nearby tried to capture the dog, but she got spooked and darted off into the wilderness.
    Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • His shot from just beyond the left circle deflected off Toronto defenseman Morgan Rielly before fluttering past goaltender Joseph Woll and into the net.
    Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 10 May 2025
  • The red and yellow of Vietnam’s national flag was everywhere in the city — fluttering from buildings, painted on the faces of eager teenagers and on the T-shirts of those who had traveled to the city from all over the country.
    Aniruddha Ghosal, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Flitter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flitter. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!