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
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Recent Examples of fluttered
Union Jack bunting fluttered overhead.
—
Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2025
Concertgoers fluttered around the building, staying away from the barricaded stairs leading up to the upstairs balcony, which is inaccessible.
—Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 22 Sep. 2025
Councilwoman Stevens fluttered and snapped a folding fan.
—Henry Alford, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
And Melissa Jefferson-Wooden of Team USA sealed her iconic 100 Metres Final win with lashes that fluttered as boldly as her stride, plus long nails that looked as unstoppable as her finish.
—Larry Stansbury, Essence, 19 Sep. 2025
The pass fluttered to Baron Browning, who intercepted it near midfield.
—Joseph Person, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
Their tops and Tate’s hair fluttered in the breeze of a wind machine absurdly cranked up to Stage 4 hurricane levels.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2025
Numerous colorful flags with religious phrases and the name of Imam Hussein in Arabic fluttered among the crowd as families walked together, young and old, most dressed in black as a symbol of mourning, some pushing strollers and wagons with their children.
—Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2025
Concertgoers fluttered around the building, staying away from the barricaded stairs leading up to the upstairs balcony, which is inaccessible.
—Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 22 Sep. 2025
Councilwoman Stevens fluttered and snapped a folding fan.
—Henry Alford, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
And Melissa Jefferson-Wooden of Team USA sealed her iconic 100 Metres Final win with lashes that fluttered as boldly as her stride, plus long nails that looked as unstoppable as her finish.
—Larry Stansbury, Essence, 19 Sep. 2025
The pass fluttered to Baron Browning, who intercepted it near midfield.
—Joseph Person, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
Their tops and Tate’s hair fluttered in the breeze of a wind machine absurdly cranked up to Stage 4 hurricane levels.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2025
Numerous colorful flags with religious phrases and the name of Imam Hussein in Arabic fluttered among the crowd as families walked together, young and old, most dressed in black as a symbol of mourning, some pushing strollers and wagons with their children.
—Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fluttered
Verb
-
Grass moths that darted sideways through the air.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Leavitt took the snap and darted right, headed for the first-down marker on the sideline.—
Doug Haller,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Moytoy flapped his lips fast like an engine.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Aug. 2025
-
Cunha, sitting on the turf, flapped his arms when Mbeumo failed to follow in for a tap-in.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Sunlight flitted over the Pacific Ocean and into our bedroom.—
Joe Garcia,
New Yorker,
12 Oct. 2025
-
Bees and wasps flitted together on yellow flowers, and as the day wore on, gnats clumped in beams of sunshine to make a kind of haze.—
Blair Braverman,
Outside,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Dresses swished and dress shoes clacked against the floor as couples danced for bragging rights in one of the biggest celebrations of Black culture in KC.—
Alexa Stone
Updated October 21,
Kansas City Star,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Jen is also overjoyed that this journey has helped her share an unforgettable experience with her mom, who danced with her during Dedication Night.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Kravitz's new cut couldn't be fresher, with blunt, flicked out ends that barely reach below her ears.—
Grace McCarty,
Glamour,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Djokovic raced onto it, flicked the ball down the line, and still won the point, rousing himself and the crowd with a finger to the ear.—
James Hansen,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fluttered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fluttered. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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