1
as in flips
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 flows
to move or proceed smoothly and readily
a lone hang glider skimming along just above the treetops
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in brushes
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
4
5
as in peeks
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 skims
Complete the look with this silk skirt that has a subtle tulip hem and bias cut that skims the figure, a pair of Mary Janes with an elastic strap for easy movement and bow detailing, and this easy-to-carry clutch with an interior large enough for your phone, lip balm, and wallet.
—
Shea Simmons, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026
This list merely skims the surface of the buildings worth seeing in Italy’s national capital.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
Pond skims a rite of spring Spring skiing can be variable.
—Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 18 Mar. 2026
During many eclipse seasons, the moon merely skims Earth's penumbra and umbra.
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 27 Feb. 2026
That startup success story often skims over the franchise’s original struggles to launch, including its years-long quest for a suitable new stadium.
—Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 5 Dec. 2025
For a storm to happen, Earth has to pass through a dense part of the comet’s debris during perihelion, but sometimes our planet only skims the outskirts.
—Gina Park, CNN Money, 16 Nov. 2025
There is voice-over used to info-dump about plot points that would otherwise be unclear, a lengthy montage that skims multiple days of the story, and an opening framing device that was clearly hastily crafted to try to justify why The Rats now comes after The Witcher season four, not before.
—Scott Meslow, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
But even that skims past a lot of interesting stuff.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 19 Oct. 2025
Shea Simmons, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026
This list merely skims the surface of the buildings worth seeing in Italy’s national capital.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
Pond skims a rite of spring Spring skiing can be variable.
—Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 18 Mar. 2026
During many eclipse seasons, the moon merely skims Earth's penumbra and umbra.
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 27 Feb. 2026
That startup success story often skims over the franchise’s original struggles to launch, including its years-long quest for a suitable new stadium.
—Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 5 Dec. 2025
For a storm to happen, Earth has to pass through a dense part of the comet’s debris during perihelion, but sometimes our planet only skims the outskirts.
—Gina Park, CNN Money, 16 Nov. 2025
There is voice-over used to info-dump about plot points that would otherwise be unclear, a lengthy montage that skims multiple days of the story, and an opening framing device that was clearly hastily crafted to try to justify why The Rats now comes after The Witcher season four, not before.
—Scott Meslow, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
But even that skims past a lot of interesting stuff.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 19 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skims
Verb
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As the host flips through each picture, the players must write down the correct baby name for that specific animal.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Both meet their demise at the hands of the other when Old Red flips on his back, breaking his neck and crushing McLane to death.—
Josh Crutchmer,
Rolling Stone,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
There’s nothing fancy about a big, square screen that sits upstage of the circular playing area, but the subtlety in which the images and mood flows through the screen greatly enhance the storytelling.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
After the play-within-a-play, there’s no turning back, and the blood flows like wine or poison.—
Katie Walsh,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Tokyo Stylez, Cardi’s hairstylist, brushes out a sleek brown hairpiece, and Erika la’ pearl, her makeup artist, dabs at Cardi’s face while the rapper scrolls through her phone, controlling the music.—
Jazmine Hughes,
Allure,
24 Mar. 2026
-
When some chime in to say their doctors had been cautiously optimistic about treatments, Sarah brushes that aside.—
Gerald Witt,
AJC.com,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
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One of his right-footed attempts, uncorked with minimal backlift, crashes against the bar with such force that the noise reverberates around the ground and the ball bounces out towards the halfway line.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
2 Apr. 2026
-
At one point, there’s a montage that bounces between Irene practicing at the ballet bar, almost glowing with angelic light, and Soames signing his name onto documents at the office.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The karaoke worker peeks his head in, tells them to get out.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Mar. 2026
-
When Dana peeks in and Robby simply shakes his head no?—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This makes less noise because the squeegee glides more smoothly across your windshield.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Perfect for compact rooms and overnight guests, the space-saving chair features an adjustable backrest and pull-out base that easily glides into place.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Points are awarded by zone, from 0 to 5; gutter balls subtract a point, while a ball that kisses the stake earns a perfect 10.—
Brittany Anas,
Denver Post,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Robert Ballard hugs and kisses family members before deployment.—
Jasmine Arenas,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Smith said his family never skips a Southern staple known as cornbread salad.—
Peter Burke,
FOXNews.com,
5 Apr. 2026
-
At the end of The Age of Innocence (1920), Edith Wharton skips forward from her 1870s setting to give us an early-twentieth-century glimpse of her protagonist Newland Archer.—
Michael Gorra,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Skims.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skims. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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