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
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Recent Examples of flitter
But there was also a significant contingent from DR Congo, resplendent in light blue, their flags flittering in the afternoon breeze.
—
Jack Lang, New York Times, 31 Mar. 2026
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
Jack Lang, New York Times, 31 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flitter
Verb
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Those who aren’t taking over the whole place and enjoy more of a scene can flit over in the island’s speedboat to neighboring Hurawalhi, with its buzzy bar, big gym, and underwater restaurant.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Apr. 2026
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Summer signifies les grandes vacances, when the French take off parts of July and the entire month of August to flit to their country homes or the coast.—
Lane Nieset,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Penguins darted beneath us, marine iguanas grazed on algae, and sea lions twirled playfully in the water.—
David Morris,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Apr. 2026
-
From corners, Bromley pack the six-yard box, with multiple players darting towards its centre.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Iran’s flag before the 1979 revolution — green, white and red with a lion and a rising sun — flutters from many overhangs.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
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At that moment, the sun began to shine brightly, the wind picked up and the curtain fluttered violently.—
Kamala Thiagarajan,
NPR,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flitter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flitter. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
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