SKIMMING Synonyms: 115 Similar and Opposite Words

skimming

verb

Definition of skimming

present participle of skim

as in flipping

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in flowing

to move or proceed smoothly and readily a lone hang glider skimming along just above the treetops

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in brushing

to pass lightly across or touch gently especially in passing her hand just barely skimmed the wall as she ran down the hallway

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in bouncing

to strike and fly off at an angle the rock just skimmed the surface of the water

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in glancing

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 skimming Zendaya traded her beige dress for a white gown by Matières Fécales, with floor-skimming wings. — Tiffany Kelly, Entertainment Weekly, 15 July 2026 The Rotary Mouse is suited for user tasks that require a lot of scrolling such as reading websites, writing lengthy documents, skimming spreadsheets, coding, or large amounts of video editing. — Shirl Leigh july 12, New Atlas, 12 July 2026 Consumers can help protect themselves from skimming by inspecting card readers before use, covering the keypad when entering a PIN, monitoring account activity regularly, and promptly reporting suspicious transactions to their financial institution. — Mary Ella Hastings july 9, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 July 2026 The cropped length and elbow-skimming sleeves keep things cool while brown buttons add visual interest. — Claire West, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026 It’s made up of a pair of wide-leg pants and a body-skimming long-sleeve top that’s cozy and soft. — Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 6 July 2026 Once devoted to chin-skimming cuts, Hadid has spent the last year growing out her hair. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 3 July 2026 Workers were seen skimming the surface of the pool in the end nearest the World War II Memorial. — Drew Pittock, USA Today, 2 July 2026 Director David Anspaugh, whose resume includes small-town basketball tale Hoosiers and against-all-odds college football biopic Rudy, sticks rigidly to his sporting underdog formula, only skimming the surface of the David-versus-Goliath encounter. — Jon O'Brien, Vulture, 26 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for skimming

Verb

Giant armored bulldozers—now Caterpillar model D9—stabbed their front blades into the ground and drove forward, flipping fields and shaving off orchards.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026
Instead of flipping his day, the branding exec likes to ski in the morning and doesn’t head to the office until noon, preferring to work later in the evening—often over dinner with clients.

— Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 15 July 2026

Definition of flipping

Verb

Eating After Brushing Some people worry that eating breakfast immediately after brushing will cancel out the benefits of brushing.

— Sarah Jividen, Verywell Health, 10 July 2026
Later that day, Loftis approached a 38-year-old woman who was brushing snow off her vehicle near Madison Avenue and West 79th Street.

— Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 9 July 2026

Definition of brushing

Verb

Raimundo Orsi, Italy vs Czechoslovakia, 1934 Orsi drags Italy level with nine minutes to go, controlling a bouncing ball and turning superbly in the box to fire past Czech goalkeeper and captain Frantisek Planicka.

— Adam Hurrey, New York Times, 17 July 2026
The tide had turned, and the sun was bouncing from office windows on either side of the water.

— Sam Knight, New Yorker, 17 July 2026

Definition of bouncing

Verb

The episode is like a hothouse of feeling with every line delivery, moment of eye contact, and glancing touch landing humid and heavy.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 15 July 2026
Argentina finally re-took the lead for good in the 111th minute when Cristian Romero hit a glancing header that deflected off the arm of Cape Verde defender Diney Borges for an own goal.

— Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 13 July 2026

Definition of glancing

Verb

Webb was cruising along until hitting Randy Arozarena and walking Josh Naylor with one out in the seventh, bringing the tying run to the plate.

— Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 19 July 2026
This is the cruise line’s first year cruising to Alaska, and our first time sailing with MSC.

— Susan B. Barnes, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 July 2026

Definition of cruising

Verb

In the post, the couple, who tied the knot in July 2025, is seen kissing on the beach as Jenner holds up a series of ultrasound photos.

— Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 15 July 2026
The Prince and Princess of Wales, both 44, were photographed embracing and kissing at a charity polo game on July 10 in Windsor, England.

— Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 14 July 2026

Definition of kissing

Verb

Should the Senate follow suit, there goes my excuse for skipping church one Sunday each spring.

— Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 16 July 2026
Had Marsh taken that step — known in legal parlance as striking Basabe’s affirmative defenses — the jury would have only had to determine monetary damages against Basabe on each count, skipping the step of deciding whether to hold Basabe liable.

— Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026