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
Leaf-peeping season has arrived in the Northeast and beyond, but weeks of drought have muted this year’s autumn colors, and sent leaves fluttering to the ground earlier than usual.
—
Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025
The Chinese national flag fluttering with the Lujiazui Financial District in the background.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2025
Longer pieces reached the tops of her cheekbones, fluttering out like wings.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2025
Coomes has seen unexplained orbs fluttering in upstairs offices on the security cameras.
—Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fluttering
Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025
The Chinese national flag fluttering with the Lujiazui Financial District in the background.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2025
Longer pieces reached the tops of her cheekbones, fluttering out like wings.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2025
Coomes has seen unexplained orbs fluttering in upstairs offices on the security cameras.
—Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fluttering
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fluttering
Verb
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Swinging from the overhanging branches and darting through the woods, the animals were heading toward a nearby housing project, their pink faces lit with glee.—
Ava Kofman,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
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But such is the lightning pace of Mbappe that he might be best placed dropping deeper during build-up before darting in-behind.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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While images of retinas bursting with color and a dove flapping its wings on an outstretched human hand looped behind them, the two allowed the crowd to grow denser while bobbing along to their rhythms.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
6 Nov. 2025
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Gauzy curtains that have blown into a tree are flapping in the wind.—
Jane Arraf,
NPR,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Pulse is a ghost story, featuring two interwoven storylines about young Tokyoites who begin to see and hear strange apparitions flitting across their computer screens.—
Katie Rife,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Oct. 2025
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The spaces are smaller, with lower benches, and the older players, flitting between dressing rooms for U14s and U12s, have had to take their belongings home each day rather than leave them in lockers due to the carousel of teams moving in and out.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Everyone was dancing, sweating out their edges, and singing every word.—
Sandy Pierre,
Refinery29,
7 Nov. 2025
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After the announcement, Musk celebrated the vote on a stage at the shareholder meeting, dancing and laughing alongside a pair of robots.—
David Ingram,
NBC news,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Freddie Freeman won an eight-pitch tussle with Gausman by flicking a two-out double into the right-field corner.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
26 Oct. 2025
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While a wagging dog’s tail might indicate excitement or friendliness, a flicking cat’s tail can signal irritation.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fluttering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fluttering. Accessed 20 Nov. 2025.
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