skim

1
as in to flip
to turn over pages in an idle or cursory manner I'll just skim through a few styling magazines and see if something interesting catches my eye

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2
3
4
as in to bounce
to strike and fly off at an angle the rock just skimmed the surface of the water

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5
as in to peek
to take a quick or hasty look he impatiently skimmed through the book, looking for the specific passage he remembered seeing

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 skim These cards, used by low-income families to access food benefits, are increasingly being cloned, skimmed and drained, feds say. Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 23 July 2025 This flood of new money, especially related to weapons procurement and construction projects, has increased opportunities for officers and defense industry executives to pad their budgets or skim money off the top. M. Taylor Fravel, Foreign Affairs, 18 July 2025 Megan wore a black criss-cross halter-neck dress from Off-White that skimmed her body and pooled around her on the floor. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 17 July 2025 The seventh full moon of 2025 was one of the lowest-hanging of the year, skimming the southern horizon and setting in the southwest close to sunrise. Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for skim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skim
Verb
  • Gavin Newsom of California and Kathy Hochul of New York to consider counter-efforts to redraw their state’s congressional boundaries to flip GOP seats to Democrats.
    Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2025
  • Swigert flipped switches inside the command module.
    Kelly Meyerhofer, jsonline.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • So, for example, goods that flow to Mexico from China, where final consumer packaging is done, would be a light form of value-add.
    Steve Banker, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
  • Among the rest of the cast are several returnees from the 2003 film including Harmon; Rosalind Chao back as Mama P; Stephen Tobolowsky as Mr. Bates; and Chad Michael Murray, flowing hair and all, returning as Anna’s early crush, Jake.
    Pete Hammond, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • This required a 4:30 a.m. wake-up, Hackmann said, to ensure enough time to bathe, dry and brush their cows before the 8 a.m. competition.
    Liliana Fannin, jsonline.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Paxton’s team has brushed off the personal attacks, insisting voters are focused on his record rather than his private life.
    Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 2 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The challenge properly starts the next day, and basically immediately, the contestants who aren’t Jesus and Antonio start complaining about Jesus and Antonio, who are essentially working together at the same table, bouncing ideas off each other and swapping construction techniques.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Long wait times, endless tests and bouncing from one specialist to another while relaying the same lengthy medical history over and over.
    Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Each of these pairs will enjoy near-daily wear peeking out from under wide-leg jeans and fall dresses.
    Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 5 Aug. 2025
  • The residents saw the prowler outside their homes peeking in at them.
    Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 28 July 2025
Verb
  • Wearing a green track jacket and pearls, Billie Jean King glided out from behind the bar.
    Emily Bloch, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Aug. 2025
  • The payment glided across Visa's network, processed through Stripe, and landed in the merchant's account.
    Roomy Khan, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Other sweet shots include Harley kissing her fiancé in his arms, and two celebratory engagement cakes.
    Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 24 Mar. 2025
  • In the video, baby Sofia can be seen giggling in her bouncer as Ree sings, plays and tickles her, as well as kissing the happy infant, who looks cute in a floral sleeper.
    Becca Longmire, People.com, 24 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Instead of creating a picture by mapping where light lands on each sensor (or pixel), the heliostat method skips imaging entirely.
    Victoria Corless, Space.com, 5 Aug. 2025
  • Volunteers who skip the HOA approval process and act without board authority may be outside of the protections of both the statute and the insurance.
    Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Skim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skim. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.

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