as in to scurry
to move quickly and lightly along a surface
Dry leaves skittered over the sidewalk. Mice skittered across the floor.
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Recent Examples of skitter
There’s nothing animatronic about the crabs skittering in the turquoise surf on the southeastern tip of Eleuthera in the Bahamas.
—
Mark Gauert, Sun Sentinel, 20 Jan. 2025
In an early scene, he is set upon by a shrieking, skittering swarm of creepers—imagine giant, whitish pill bugs with huge mandibles—and expects to be devoured (and resurrected) within seconds.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2025
For a new study in the Journal of Experimental Biology, Weiss and her co-authors recorded skittering cricket frogs from above and below the surface at 500 frames per second and then played the videos back much more slowly.
—Rohini Subrahmanyam, Scientific American, 30 Jan. 2025
Inch-long cricket frogs also seem to skitter over the surface of water with physics-defying grace.
—Rohini Subrahmanyam, Scientific American, 30 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for skitter
Mark Gauert, Sun Sentinel, 20 Jan. 2025
In an early scene, he is set upon by a shrieking, skittering swarm of creepers—imagine giant, whitish pill bugs with huge mandibles—and expects to be devoured (and resurrected) within seconds.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2025
For a new study in the Journal of Experimental Biology, Weiss and her co-authors recorded skittering cricket frogs from above and below the surface at 500 frames per second and then played the videos back much more slowly.
—Rohini Subrahmanyam, Scientific American, 30 Jan. 2025
Inch-long cricket frogs also seem to skitter over the surface of water with physics-defying grace.
—Rohini Subrahmanyam, Scientific American, 30 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for skitter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skitter
Verb
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The rats all scurry out of an ominous rustling bush, making their own little Fast and the Furriest sequel.—
Jocelyn Silver,
Vogue,
6 June 2025
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Several of the party’s candidates scurried around the Anaheim convention center, trying to curry favor with the state’s most liberal activists while also drawing contrasts with their rivals.—
Seema Mehta,
Los Angeles Times,
5 June 2025
Verb
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In-ho, clearly taking no pleasure in the sight in the wake of recent events, darted his eyes downward and rolled back up his window, before his driver moved on….—
Matt Webb Mitovich,
TVLine,
27 June 2025
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His eyes dart over to a curtained section of the wall.—
Rachel Raposas,
People.com,
26 June 2025
Verb
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February 2025 Six of Wands: With Venus dancing from your sign this month into Aries on the 4th, all eyes are on you, Pisces.—
Meghan Rose,
Glamour,
1 July 2025
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Les Twins have collaborated with her on numerous occasions, dancing alongside her on major stages, tours and videos.—
Caché McClay,
USA Today,
1 July 2025
Verb
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While gymnasts are flying inside a venue during the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Archer Aviation electric air taxis will be flitting through the air above the area saving athletes, VIPs, guests and myriad others from performing brutal traffic acrobatics to get from place-to-place.—
Ed Garsten,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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Contractors have been flitting in and out over the last week at the facility, bringing in solar panels and generators.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
30 June 2025
Verb
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The card features drawings of flying birds, floating feathers, shooting stars, fluttering butterflies and rowing gondoliers.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
People.com,
24 June 2025
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Outside of quintessential Southern porch staples, nature adds an idyllic experience to the outdoors, especially the presence of hummingbirds with their gracefully fluttering wings and gentle humming sound.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
13 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Skitter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skitter. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
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