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
The ubiquitous television graphics, TRUMP-PUTIN SUMMIT, with fluttering American and Russian flags.
—
Richard Stengel, Time, 16 Aug. 2025
Irregular heart rhythms, called arrhythmias, might feel like fluttering or racing in the chest.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Aug. 2025
Sometimes, there are strips of cloth fluttering off branches in hopes of prayers answered.
—Diaa Hadid, NPR, 6 Aug. 2025
Whether a baby elephant is taking its first steps or colorful birds are fluttering about, every corner presents a new perspective.
—Maija De Rijk-Uys
published, Travel + Leisure, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fluttering
Richard Stengel, Time, 16 Aug. 2025
Irregular heart rhythms, called arrhythmias, might feel like fluttering or racing in the chest.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Aug. 2025
Sometimes, there are strips of cloth fluttering off branches in hopes of prayers answered.
—Diaa Hadid, NPR, 6 Aug. 2025
Whether a baby elephant is taking its first steps or colorful birds are fluttering about, every corner presents a new perspective.
—Maija De Rijk-Uys
published, Travel + Leisure, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fluttering
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fluttering
Verb
-
Just across from the main entrance to App State, the small parking lot has cars darting in and out all day.—
Sheri Castle,
Southern Living,
31 Aug. 2025
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As the temperature surged to two hundred degrees, Solórzano slammed a snowball scented with black pepper and juniper tar onto the rocks, filling the room with a gunpowdery musk, and waved furiously, darting up and down the sauna stairs, tossing his towel in an elegant plume of white.—
Leslie Jamison,
New Yorker,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Birds can soar through the sky for long periods without flapping their wings.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Sep. 2025
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Well, the 23-year-old Belgian was among Europe’s best shot-stopping goalkeepers last season, is quick off his line and appears to be pretty composed, which would be ideal around his two flapping new goalkeeper team mates.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The BirdWeather devices automatically register bird calls and use them to identify the species, mostly to let bird fans know what's flitting through their yards.—
Nell Greenfieldboyce,
NPR,
21 Aug. 2025
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Stop flitting around and stop straddling strategies by making the plan that becomes your default.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
During their first night out together, the couple ducks into a Spanish nightclub, drinking under a smear of colored lights and then dancing.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
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As a guy who is simply not built for summer (sweaty, burns easily, refuses to wear shorts), the turning of the calendar to September adds a little lead to my tread, with visions of cider and sweaters dancing in my head.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
While you guys had staff inside laughing, pointing and even flicking off the crowd outside.—
Megan Cartwright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fluttering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fluttering. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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