1
as in darting
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 flapping
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 fluttering
Inspired by the heart-fluttering love letters Sally writes to Linus, the designs feature instantly recognizable motifs that marry the Peanuts’ charm with Margesherwood’s refined silhouettes.
—
Claire Salinda, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026
Pugh’s dress wholly evoked dark glamour, with a high neckline, fluttering short sleeves and a hint of contrasting fabric throughout the design of the dress.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 18 Feb. 2026
Stroll the Butterfly Garden to see butterflies fluttering about the plants that were planted especially to give them a home.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 17 Feb. 2026
Nothing sparks a team quite like killing off a five-on-three, and Canada scored in transition just 14 seconds after Fast was freed, as Kristin O’Neill batted in a fluttering Fast rebound for a 1-0 lead.
—Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fluttering
Claire Salinda, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026
Pugh’s dress wholly evoked dark glamour, with a high neckline, fluttering short sleeves and a hint of contrasting fabric throughout the design of the dress.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 18 Feb. 2026
Stroll the Butterfly Garden to see butterflies fluttering about the plants that were planted especially to give them a home.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 17 Feb. 2026
Nothing sparks a team quite like killing off a five-on-three, and Canada scored in transition just 14 seconds after Fast was freed, as Kristin O’Neill batted in a fluttering Fast rebound for a 1-0 lead.
—Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fluttering
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fluttering
Verb
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Nazar and Bertuzzi failed to convert on a two-on-none breakaway, but Nazar quickly grabbed the loose puck and found a darting Lardis to even the score at 1.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
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Everyone’s eyes were darting around the room.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Yes, literally like a bird flapping its wings.—
Alex Kirshner,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2026
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Large, thoughtful pockets stay accessible without flapping, and adjusters at the waist and cuffs help keep comfortability, even at mid-hike.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Jacir wants to show a cross section of people’s responses to these events, but the result often feels like scattershot scenes from a longer miniseries, flitting from one character to another with little narrative thrust or cohesion.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
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Fittingly, Daniel Pemberton’s score has that same sense of free-ranging curiosity, flitting between genres at will.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The lights will be dancing across a bridge that has spent nearly a century living in the shadow of its more glamorous Golden Gate sibling just across the water.—
Jose Fabian,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
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Where dancing on sticky living room floors, sneaking beers from your parents' refrigerator and bumping music on stereos were hallmarks of adolescence.—
Jane Onyanga-Omara,
USA Today,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Maza drew in Hamburg players before flicking the ball on for Kofane, who lashed it into the top-left corner.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2026
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The name Dekopin in Japanese refers to flicking someone on the forehead with a finger, typically as a lighthearted punishment or joke.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fluttering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fluttering. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.
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