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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of skitter
Fingers skitter up and down the strings of a double bass, hands massage the piano keys, brushes gently scratch at the drums.
—
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026
Gu skittered off the first rail and toppled to her side, dashing her title hopes.
—Joseph Wilson, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026
The two tuxedo cats skittered uneasily away from her, afraid of what kind of chaos this toddling creature would bring into their lives.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 7 Feb. 2026
Smaller critters — hermit crabs, lightning whelks and snails — skittered along the seafloor.
—Max Chesnes, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for skitter
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026
Gu skittered off the first rail and toppled to her side, dashing her title hopes.
—Joseph Wilson, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026
The two tuxedo cats skittered uneasily away from her, afraid of what kind of chaos this toddling creature would bring into their lives.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 7 Feb. 2026
Smaller critters — hermit crabs, lightning whelks and snails — skittered along the seafloor.
—Max Chesnes, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for skitter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skitter
Verb
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Going outside now means scurrying along giant arcades, shaded from the Sun by massive canopies that filter 99% of its UV light.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
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But here from West Palm Beach’s cheap seats, people scurrying inside glass conjures up those halcyon summers of magnifying glasses, ants and mean kids.—
Pat Beall,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Stop by the hummingbird garden, where 14 species of petite, fairylike birds dart from plant to plant, sipping nectar from native blooms.—
Meghan Palmer,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Mar. 2026
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There was the usual assemblage of male and female Anna’s and just a couple of the Allen’s darting out occasionally from the sanctuary of the nearby tree to drink nectar from the hanging feeders.—
Ernie Cowan,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The 14ers banged drums and danced like no one was watching.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
29 Mar. 2026
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At the Morristown Municipal Building in New Jersey, an oversized inflatable frog danced at the head of the crowd.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Spring's warmth is settling in across southern Michigan, and hummingbirds will soon be flitting about the state.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
31 Mar. 2026
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On the waterfront, saffron finches flit between yellow shutters and almond trees.—
Stephanie Rafanelli,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Patrick Kane took a shot from the point that fluttered through traffic and bounced off Compher, who was parked at the goalpost.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
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There’s a Super 8 projector pointed at a set of red velvet curtains, which flutter apart only for the man himself.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Skitter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skitter. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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