Synonyms of skims

skims

verb

present tense third-person singular of skim

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

• flips
• thumbs
• riffles
• scans
• dips
• leafs
• browses
• looks over
• glances (at)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• studies
• pores (over)

2

as in flows

to move or proceed smoothly and readily

a lone hang glider skimming along just above the treetops

Synonyms & Similar Words

• flows
• glides
• drifts
• cruises
• sweeps
• slips
• sails
• slides
• streams
• flies
• rolls
• brushes
• races
• speeds
• rushes
• bowls
• whisks
• breezes
• coasts

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• struggles
• stumbles
• flounders
• trudges
• limps
• plods
• shuffles
• lumbers
• stamps
• stomps
• toils
• stumps
• labors
• tramps
• shambles

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

• brushes
• kisses
• touches
• nudges
• shaves
• grazes
• caresses
• misses
• pats
• scrapes
• sweeps
• skips
• bumps
• contacts
• strokes
• swipes
• strikes
• glances
• bounces
• fondles
• loves
• sideswipes
• rebounds
• ricochets
• cuddles
• skirts
• caroms
• pets

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hits
• knocks
• impinges
• slaps
• smacks
• collides
• impacts
• smashes
• slams
• bumps
• crashes
• swipes
• punches
• whacks
• rams
• bangs
• clashes
• bashes
• thwacks
• thuds

4

as in bounces

to strike and fly off at an angle

the rock just skimmed the surface of the water

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bounces
• skips
• rebounds
• glances
• ricochets
• sweeps
• grazes
• shaves
• rakes
• brushes
• caroms
• hits
• nudges
• bumps
• contacts
• reflects
• kisses
• touches
• sideswipes

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• peeks
• glances
• browses
• glimpses
• dips
• glints
• squints
• scans
• peruses
• peeps
• rakes
• looks over
• keeks
• blinks

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• examines
• stares
• gazes
• overlooks
• oversees
• surveys
• questions
• studies
• views
• pries
• peers
• leers
• goggles
• ogles
• gawks
• rubbernecks

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of skims

After that, visitors file out and gain even more virtual altitude, boarding a dirigible that skims an ancient version of the skyline. — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 1 Oct. 2026

The shape skims one’s physique rather than hugging it, creating the kind of movement that made flapper dresses perfect for dancing. — Corinne Pierre-Louis, Vogue, 27 Sep. 2026

Instead, the dress flows from the shoulders and loosely skims the body. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2026

Winner of the Best Actress prize at Sarajevo after premiering in the Berlinale’s Perspectives section, the film has a bleak, unflinching gaze that sometimes skims the edges of shock-value miserablism. — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 30 Aug. 2026

Its effortlessly drapey silhouette skims the body without clinging, while the high neckline lends a polished, sophisticated touch that’s easy to dress up or down. — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 15 July 2026

Made from a smooth, lightweight material that skims the body without clinging, this set strikes the right balance between fitted and baggy. — Jill Layton, PEOPLE, 4 July 2026

Someone pulls a trend report, watches a handful of viral videos, skims a research deck, maybe sits in on one focus group, and from that thin base builds a campaign meant to represent an entire community. — Sonia Thompson, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

That’s because a white tank that skims your body just right will become your new favorite going out, work (especially if worn under a blazer), brunch, and even workout top. — Emma Greene, InStyle, 26 June 2026