1
as in darted
to make an irregular series of quick, sudden movements
a lonely butterfly fluttering across the lawn
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Xi and a line-up of his top officials shook hands with the Russian president, before the relaxed-looking leaders stood shoulder to shoulder during a gun salute, while a military band played and Russian and Chinese flags fluttered in the background.
—
Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 20 May 2026
Mats Zuccarello took a shot from the left point that went off Toews and fluttered towards the net.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 10 May 2026
Homemade fan art of Jacks, the series’s love interest, fluttered out of a collector’s-edition case.
—Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
At that moment, the sun began to shine brightly, the wind picked up and the curtain fluttered violently.
—Kamala Thiagarajan, NPR, 26 Apr. 2026
Stars forward Arttu Hyry had what appeared to be a wide-open look at a tying goal in the slot, but misfired as the puck fluttered over the net.
—ABC News, 4 Apr. 2026
As Ember brushed past to turn on the lamp, one of the sheets came unstuck and fluttered out into the hallway, caught in her slight draft.
—Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Patrick Kane took a shot from the point that fluttered through traffic and bounced off Compher, who was parked at the goalpost.
—CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
And there, for the fifth time, was Azzi Fudd as the colorful scraps of paper, shot from big cannons, fluttered down all around her.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2026
Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 20 May 2026
Mats Zuccarello took a shot from the left point that went off Toews and fluttered towards the net.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 10 May 2026
Homemade fan art of Jacks, the series’s love interest, fluttered out of a collector’s-edition case.
—Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
At that moment, the sun began to shine brightly, the wind picked up and the curtain fluttered violently.
—Kamala Thiagarajan, NPR, 26 Apr. 2026
Stars forward Arttu Hyry had what appeared to be a wide-open look at a tying goal in the slot, but misfired as the puck fluttered over the net.
—ABC News, 4 Apr. 2026
As Ember brushed past to turn on the lamp, one of the sheets came unstuck and fluttered out into the hallway, caught in her slight draft.
—Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Patrick Kane took a shot from the point that fluttered through traffic and bounced off Compher, who was parked at the goalpost.
—CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
And there, for the fifth time, was Azzi Fudd as the colorful scraps of paper, shot from big cannons, fluttered down all around her.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fluttered
Verb
-
Harvey Barnes interjected and darted forward, crossing for Nick Woltemade, but West Ham were playing at 33rpm to Newcastle’s 45.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
-
National Bureau of Investigation agents tried to serve the ICC arrest warrant, but dela Rosa darted toward a narrow stairway into the Senate plenary hall and sought the help of allied senators, who took him into protective custody.—
Jim Gomez,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Kerolin’s head was down and eventually so was Shaw’s, her run stopped, arms flapped against her side.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
-
The jacket hugged every contour of your torso and never flapped in the wind.—
The Editors,
Outside,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
From there, the event planner extraordinaire flitted around to a few more spots, including MI-V1 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, and Lux, in the old Liquid location.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
-
These words are fascinating to consider in relation to Soderbergh, who has flitted among genres and subjects with a facility that is easily mistaken for dilettantism, or even ventriloquism.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Prince Harry and Meghan hugged, twirled, dipped and danced across the frames taken during their first dance as a married couple, and the shots showed off new angles of her royal reception dress for the first time.—
Janine Henni,
PEOPLE,
19 May 2026
-
Witnesses recorded the ensuing chaos, one saying the shooter danced on Dustin's body after shooting him.—
Olivia Young,
CBS News,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
Hull went closest on the stroke of halftime when McBurnie’s header flicked off a Middlesbrough defender and clipped the top of the crossbar.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 May 2026
-
Madrigal flicked a slick pass back to a charging Mukhtar for the finish from the right corner of the six-yard box in the 13th minute.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fluttered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fluttered. Accessed 26 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
