as in scurrying
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 skittering
The trout went nuts over the little black mice skittering on the ice, so Olthuis kept the camera going while Cort hooked fish after fish.
—
Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 4 Dec. 2025
The show, documented with the live album In the Blue Light, jettisons the skittering, moonlit electronics of the star’s back catalogue, softening stark arrangements formerly designed to hug the vocalist like a wintry chill.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
No one loves to see dust bunnies skittering across the floor.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 20 Nov. 2025
When the Huskies lined up for a 50-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, Ben Barten’s outstretched hand met the ball, sending it skittering across the slick turf.
—Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
Producers Mufasa and Yvng Gucci seamlessly pull off morphing the skittering drums of a somewhat generic UK drill beat into a thudding bouyon rhythm for Guadeloupean trio HollyG to run amok over.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 6 Nov. 2025
Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 4 Dec. 2025
The show, documented with the live album In the Blue Light, jettisons the skittering, moonlit electronics of the star’s back catalogue, softening stark arrangements formerly designed to hug the vocalist like a wintry chill.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
No one loves to see dust bunnies skittering across the floor.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 20 Nov. 2025
When the Huskies lined up for a 50-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, Ben Barten’s outstretched hand met the ball, sending it skittering across the slick turf.
—Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
Producers Mufasa and Yvng Gucci seamlessly pull off morphing the skittering drums of a somewhat generic UK drill beat into a thudding bouyon rhythm for Guadeloupean trio HollyG to run amok over.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 6 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skittering
Verb
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If seeing one scurrying through your living room sends you scrambling for a quick remedy, your instincts are on track.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
1 Jan. 2026
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Investigators are now once again searching for the person who was seen dressed in all black and scurrying down a street in the Rhode Island capital around the time of the shooting in video released to the public on Saturday night.—
Chris Spargo,
PEOPLE,
15 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The headlights of the long-haul trucks illuminated Joshua trees and darting bats.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
7 Jan. 2026
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During early warm-ups for the Broncos-Chargers game, Dobbins spent over 30 minutes catching up with former Los Angeles teammates and coaches, darting over to the stands to sign a few autographs.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Consisting of wispy layers that create soft movement, akin to fluttering butterfly wings, the cut is a popular option for cascading long lengths.—
Hannah Malach,
InStyle,
6 Jan. 2026
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Soft amber light illuminates gold jewelry, glossy lips, and brightly fabrics fluttering in the ocean breeze.—
PhotoVogue,
Vogue,
18 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Everyone was dancing, sweating out their edges, and singing every word.—
Sandy Pierre,
Refinery29,
7 Nov. 2025
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After the announcement, Musk celebrated the vote on a stage at the shareholder meeting, dancing and laughing alongside a pair of robots.—
David Ingram,
NBC news,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Skittering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skittering. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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