as in darting
to make an irregular series of quick, sudden movements
bargain hunters at the flea market flitted from table to table like hummingbirds in a garden
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flitting
The spaces are smaller, with lower benches, and the older players, flitting between dressing rooms for U14s and U12s, have had to take their belongings home each day rather than leave them in lockers due to the carousel of teams moving in and out.
—
Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
The episode ends with a haunting overhead shot of the yard dotted with frozen clusters of kids in gray jumpsuits and the frantic staff outfitted in bright orange, flitting among them.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
Expect flocks of vibrant flamingos and tiny flitting hummingbirds spreading their wings over the turquoise waters and tangles of mangroves that unfold across lagoons that stretch parallel to the sea.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2025
To a different namesake, all this flitting indecision might seem like disrespect.
—Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 6 Sep. 2025
Powerful real estate developer Frank (Tracy Letts) looks at Lee like a pesky bug that keeps flitting about, yet he’s also amused by his antics.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2025
The BirdWeather devices automatically register bird calls and use them to identify the species, mostly to let bird fans know what's flitting through their yards.
—Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 21 Aug. 2025
Stop flitting around and stop straddling strategies by making the plan that becomes your default.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Even in her 90s, her easily flitting vocals astounded, bouncing from deep valleys to breathy peaks, and, like the best jazz, mimicking the volatility and joy of the human spirit.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2025
Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
The episode ends with a haunting overhead shot of the yard dotted with frozen clusters of kids in gray jumpsuits and the frantic staff outfitted in bright orange, flitting among them.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
Expect flocks of vibrant flamingos and tiny flitting hummingbirds spreading their wings over the turquoise waters and tangles of mangroves that unfold across lagoons that stretch parallel to the sea.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2025
To a different namesake, all this flitting indecision might seem like disrespect.
—Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 6 Sep. 2025
Powerful real estate developer Frank (Tracy Letts) looks at Lee like a pesky bug that keeps flitting about, yet he’s also amused by his antics.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2025
The BirdWeather devices automatically register bird calls and use them to identify the species, mostly to let bird fans know what's flitting through their yards.
—Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 21 Aug. 2025
Stop flitting around and stop straddling strategies by making the plan that becomes your default.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Even in her 90s, her easily flitting vocals astounded, bouncing from deep valleys to breathy peaks, and, like the best jazz, mimicking the volatility and joy of the human spirit.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flitting
Verb
-
Mischief in the mind of Cole Martin, the defensive back, moonlighted as a magician and snatched the direct snap before darting through a crease and churning ahead for a trick of a first down.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
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Inevitably, someone ended up swinging a quilt around to mimic the great snake’s darting heads and churning coils.—
Seamus Sullivan
September 29,
Literary Hub,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Chinese national flag fluttering with the Lujiazui Financial District in the background.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Longer pieces reached the tops of her cheekbones, fluttering out like wings.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Meanwhile warm-up demonstrations in Portland feature protestors in inflatable animal costumes—lots of frogs, along with unicorns, chickens, dinosaurs dancing in the streets, providing an alternative visual to the menace of masked enforcement agents.—
Nancy Gibbs,
Time,
17 Oct. 2025
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Fridays are the night to attend to enjoy extra activities like singing and dancing at the Great Big BOO Musical Show, as the crew tries to save Halloween from the curse of Wendella the Witch.—
John Metcalfe,
Mercury News,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flitting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flitting. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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