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
Her eyes fluttered open then closed.
—
Jayme Fraser, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
The clergy made a full lap around the field to make sure all the angles were covered, including the end where Loop's very makeable kick fluttered wide.
—CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
Almost 35 years later, the fight that started before that single envelope fluttered into his cell is not over.
—Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 27 Dec. 2025
Around her, leaves fluttered in the autumn breeze, a verdant array that suggested the Colorado might be flowing in its channel nearby.
—Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 15 Dec. 2025
The ball fluttered into the hands of end Ashton Gillotte, who had dropped back in coverage.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 14 Dec. 2025
Trailing by multiple goals for the first time in November, the Wild finally broke through in the final seconds of the period when a Faber shot from the blue line deflected off a Chicago player and fluttered through the air, off the post and in.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 27 Nov. 2025
Packers kicker Brandon McManus attempted a last-second, 64-yard field goal that fluttered and fell nowhere close.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2025
Wings fluttered, tutus twirled and butterfly clips bobbed atop tiny heads as tiny hands, stained with chalk, turned the worn road into a living storybook.
—Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 10 Nov. 2025
Jayme Fraser, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
The clergy made a full lap around the field to make sure all the angles were covered, including the end where Loop's very makeable kick fluttered wide.
—CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
Almost 35 years later, the fight that started before that single envelope fluttered into his cell is not over.
—Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 27 Dec. 2025
Around her, leaves fluttered in the autumn breeze, a verdant array that suggested the Colorado might be flowing in its channel nearby.
—Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 15 Dec. 2025
The ball fluttered into the hands of end Ashton Gillotte, who had dropped back in coverage.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 14 Dec. 2025
Trailing by multiple goals for the first time in November, the Wild finally broke through in the final seconds of the period when a Faber shot from the blue line deflected off a Chicago player and fluttered through the air, off the post and in.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 27 Nov. 2025
Packers kicker Brandon McManus attempted a last-second, 64-yard field goal that fluttered and fell nowhere close.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2025
Wings fluttered, tutus twirled and butterfly clips bobbed atop tiny heads as tiny hands, stained with chalk, turned the worn road into a living storybook.
—Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 10 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fluttered
Verb
-
MacKinnon ran a three-man weave high with Toews and Cale Makar, then darted toward the net with Toews making a parallel cut to receive the puck for a go-ahead goal.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Quite quickly after the judges picked a winner in the Quickfire Challenge, crews darted in to clean up the makeshift kitchen stacked with Bosch appliances and aluminum tables serving as workspaces.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Verona almost won it in stoppage time but Kieron Bowie couldn’t keep his attempt on target after Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret flapped aimlessly at a cross.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Feb. 2026
-
But Chelsea — and Garnacho — responded again, the Argentina international reducing the arrears again after some Kepa had flapped at a cross.—
Simon Johnson,
New York Times,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Vitinha and Joao Neves flitted around like mayflies in love.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Even at 4 degrees below zero, waxwings flitted outside our room, which had a sauna large enough to be its own hotel room.—
Boris Fishman,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
With no particular name assigned to it, the robot walked on to the stage and danced with a group of performers, drawing admiration and applause from the crowd.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Mar. 2026
-
The crowd danced, waved flags, and voiced their support for democracy in the country they were forced to leave decades ago.—
Da Lin,
CBS News,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
When more presentable opportunities arrived, Bournemouth goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic kept them out with a series of smart, reactive saves, most notably to deny Callum Wilson’s flicked volley late on.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Musa flicked a header, off a cross played by Farrington, inside the left post from the center of the area to cap the scoring in the 79th minute.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fluttered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fluttered. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
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