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
The president’s guests — which included top members of his administration, MAGA allies and big-time political donors — noshed on hors d’oeuvres and downed exotic cocktails while jazz music blared and burlesque dancers fluttered their fans.
—
Garrett Haake, NBC news, 3 Nov. 2025
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
Garrett Haake, NBC news, 3 Nov. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fluttered
Verb
-
This time at the snap, Harvey darted all the way across the formation to the right.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
27 Oct. 2025
-
This time, the sophomore broke free off a quarterback keeper, then darted up the sideline for a 39-yard touchdown rush to put his team back in the lead.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
26 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
-
Winner of season 12 (May 24, 2011) Hines Ward and Kym Johnson danced their way to the crown right before Ward's last season with the Pittsburgh Steelers.—
Kate Hogan,
PEOPLE,
11 Nov. 2025
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An energized defense danced, joked and celebrated on the field.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Instead of slamming it home, Antetokounmpo soared over the defenders to make an improbable catch, landed and flicked an on-target pass to Rollins for a corner 3 before falling out of bounds to give Milwaukee a 14-point lead.—
Eric Nehm,
New York Times,
8 Nov. 2025
-
After initially suspecting a bullet or debris flicked up by a truck, the police ruled out both.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fluttered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fluttered. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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