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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flitter
Acknowledging that the debt-forgiveness fairy isn’t flittering in the wings on graduation day calls for careful assessment of college plans, dreams, and reality.
—
Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
Black and gold flags flitter in the wind in Brackenridge, Pennsylvania, attached to homes with a Terrible Towel likely somewhere inside.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 10 Dec. 2025
His neuroses flitter around him like fireflies.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
Too many famous names flitter in and out of Selected Letters to list them all, but here is a small sampling: John Cheever, Erica Jong, Roger Angell, Norman Mailer, Italo Calvino, George Plimpton, Karl Shapiro, Lorrie Moore, Cynthia Ozick, Tina Brown, Kurt Vonnegut, Ian McEwan.
—Adrienne Lafrance, The Atlantic, 24 Oct. 2025
There might be a butterfly flittering about barren aspen trunks.
—Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 28 Apr. 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
Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
Black and gold flags flitter in the wind in Brackenridge, Pennsylvania, attached to homes with a Terrible Towel likely somewhere inside.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 10 Dec. 2025
His neuroses flitter around him like fireflies.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
Too many famous names flitter in and out of Selected Letters to list them all, but here is a small sampling: John Cheever, Erica Jong, Roger Angell, Norman Mailer, Italo Calvino, George Plimpton, Karl Shapiro, Lorrie Moore, Cynthia Ozick, Tina Brown, Kurt Vonnegut, Ian McEwan.
—Adrienne Lafrance, The Atlantic, 24 Oct. 2025
There might be a butterfly flittering about barren aspen trunks.
—Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 28 Apr. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flitter
Verb
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Here’s what to do to get rid of pesky moths flitting around indoors.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
25 Jan. 2026
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As the movie flits between these different storylines, time is reframed less as something to resist (or defy) than as something to embrace.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Chirring insects, cool eels, darting dice snakes in the Volga delta.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Jan. 2026
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The footage ends as the officer glances back toward the bench where the suspect was supposed to be handcuffed, before giving chase, with two other officers quickly darting out from behind the reception desk to join her.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Unfortunately, in some cars with only the rear windows open, the car will flutter and vibrate.—
John Paul,
The Providence Journal,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The sky does not flutter at my heartfelt admiration.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flitter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flitter. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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