1
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in flowing
to move or proceed smoothly and readily
a lone hang glider skimming along just above the treetops
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in bouncing
to strike and fly off at an angle
the rock just skimmed the surface of the water
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in glancing
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
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Recent Examples of skimming
From shoulder-grazing to collarbone-skimming lengths, and from long bobs to ultra-layered locks, these medium-length blonde hairstyles run the gamut because being just right doesn't mean being boring.
—
Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 1 Apr. 2026
As a result homeowners still need to perform daily manual skimming to remove floating debris like leaves, pollen, and insects.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 27 Mar. 2026
The action sequences, specifically those involving the spaceship skimming the upper atmosphere of a distant planet, are breathtaking in scope.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 21 Mar. 2026
Subtly curved ends punctuated her collarbone-skimming length, adding swinginess and movement.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for skimming
Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 1 Apr. 2026
As a result homeowners still need to perform daily manual skimming to remove floating debris like leaves, pollen, and insects.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 27 Mar. 2026
The action sequences, specifically those involving the spaceship skimming the upper atmosphere of a distant planet, are breathtaking in scope.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 21 Mar. 2026
Subtly curved ends punctuated her collarbone-skimming length, adding swinginess and movement.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for skimming
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skimming
Verb
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Portland trailed deep into the fourth quarter before flipping the game late.—
Doug Haller,
New York Times,
15 Apr. 2026
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The Hurricanes, under 37-year-old first-year coach Jai Lucas, tied an NCAA record for the largest victory turnaround in Division I history, flipping from 7-24 last year to 26-9 this season.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Zino leader is a dinosaur with long, flowing white hair.—
Zackery Cuevas,
PC Magazine,
14 Apr. 2026
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The mesh upper will keep air flowing through your feet throughout the day, and the slip-resistant rubber outsole will be particularly helpful on slick cobblestone streets.—
Anna Popp,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Experts advise using them gently, wearing protective eyewear, and rinsing the grill after brushing.—
Carolyn Gusoff,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
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After the wakeup call, the crew has some time to get ready (think brushing their teeth and combing their hair).—
Tariq Malik,
Space.com,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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For nearly two decades, the percentage of people 15 or older working full time for an employer has been stuck in a loop, bouncing between 42% and 46%.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
13 Apr. 2026
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In one scene, the kids are bouncing in the back yard on a trampoline when Jeremy returns home with a policeman, under arrest.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Illustrations by Thomas Merceron Even glancing contact between a passenger car and a semi truck is often enough to send the smaller vehicle pinwheeling across the highway.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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The pup can be seen glancing around his kennel with teary eyes, appearing scared and confused.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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As for Mitan, the yacht will now spend seven to eight months cruising south towards Mexico, calling at multiple anchorages along the way.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
10 Apr. 2026
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The Gears were cruising when the league declared bankruptcy and evaporated the next November.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Truthfully, the ant was already out of the bag, because the trailer that Marvel debuted at CinemaCon on Thursday included a shot of Scott/Ant-Man kissing his daughter on the head.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
17 Apr. 2026
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The proud parents could be seen kissing in front of the courthouse and posing for photos outside of it with their children running around them.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The draw isn’t merely about skipping the commute.—
Lucy Jones
April 11,
Miami Herald,
11 Apr. 2026
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For comets, sublimation of ices – when solid ice turns directly into gas, skipping the liquid phase – is the primary culprit.—
Patrick M. Shober,
The Conversation,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Skimming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skimming. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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