fluttered

verb

past tense of flutter
1
as in darted
to make an irregular series of quick, sudden movements a lonely butterfly fluttering across the lawn

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in flapped
to move or cause to move with a striking motion fluttered my eyelashes as I struck up a conversation with the new guy at work

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 fluttered The first model emerged onto a sinuous runway in a nubuck coat paired with chiffon pants that fluttered in the breeze, revealing knee-high calfskin boots. — Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026 Yellow flags Nothing did more damage to UConn’s defense in Saturday’s opener than the little yellow flags that fluttered onto the field from the referees’ waistband. — Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 6 Sep. 2026 All around them, guests smiled and laughed as children screamed with excitement and giggled each time a butterfly fluttered close. — Sophia Buonpane, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026 Young people fluttered about, wearing custom white T-shirts emblazoned with the festival’s retro cartoon-style poster art. — Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026 On Thursday morning, fat bees perched on black-and-blue sage flowers, and doves loudly fluttered from fruit tree to fruit tree. — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 23 July 2026 This isn't the first time a butterfly motif has fluttered, so to speak, into Larsson's glam routine. — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 6 July 2026 Cassettes fluttered, CDs skipped, and choosing a dozen albums for a trip meant leaving dozens more behind. — New Atlas, 23 June 2026 Cars honked their horns and cyclists pulled over to tune in as flags fluttered in the wind, fans clambered to see the screen, and people hugged and shouted. — Anna Grace Lee, Vogue, 17 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fluttered
  1. darted
  2. flapped
  3. flitted
  4. danced
  5. flicked
Verb
  • Nix darted to his right at the snap as Harvey ran a flat route toward the front pylon.
    — Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Late in the second period, freshman Emma Yokoi avoided a flag pull on a short, fourth-and-1 reception and darted 21 yards for a touchdown to push Newport Harbor’s lead to 13-0.
    — Dan Albano, Oc Register, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of darted
Verb
  • Above the dancers flapped a ring of American flags, each representing a military veteran from the community who had passed away.
    — Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Luna then tried to jump over Sandy to get back into the bowl of the nest, but Sandy lost her balance and flapped down to the lower branches.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 16 July 2026
Definition of flapped
Verb
  • By the front door, a hummingbird repeatedly flitted to the tubular magenta blooms of the Salvia spathacea.
    — Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The Spanish, who had at first just flitted along the coast in their galleons, had begun marching inland and overland from Mexico with crosses and soldiers and soldiers’ families.
    — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of flitted
Verb
  • The potential shifting of styles is no problem for Velasquez, who has danced under Cunningham and Binda and their successors Seiwert and Krutzkamp in her time in Sacramento.
    — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The report asserts flatly that Zucker wasn’t truthful and danced around the same accusation regarding Ballmer.
    — John Hollinger, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of danced
Verb
  • That’s the good life for a family that rarely flicked on the television in their childhood home.
    — Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Over two hours away through miles of dense forest, before any stadium lights flicked on in Summit at Southwest Mississippi Community College, Nolan’s coaches and teammates found several ways to remember their promising recruit Thursday.
    — Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of flicked

Browse Nearby Words

flutter
fluttered
fluttering
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Cite this Entry

“Fluttered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fluttered. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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