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
Ward put the Kings back ahead early in the second, banking in a skittering shot off the far post for his first goal of the season.
—
Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2026
Ward put the Kings back ahead early in the second, banking in a skittering shot off Quick's far post for his first goal of the season.
—CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
Surprisingly, there are plenty of birds soaring, skittering, and swooping in the air at this time of year.
—Kier Holmes, Martha Stewart, 18 Jan. 2026
My nights were filled with the thumping of someone else’s dirty clothes and the feeling of something skittering across my leg.
—Literary Hub, 16 Jan. 2026
The failure of Hollywood’s first take on Godzilla, which reimagined this towering icon into a skittering lizard that was clearly aping more from Jurassic Park than any of the kaiju films that came before it, positioned the start of Godzilla’s third era as something of a return to form.
—James Grebey, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
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
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
Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2026
Ward put the Kings back ahead early in the second, banking in a skittering shot off Quick's far post for his first goal of the season.
—CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
Surprisingly, there are plenty of birds soaring, skittering, and swooping in the air at this time of year.
—Kier Holmes, Martha Stewart, 18 Jan. 2026
My nights were filled with the thumping of someone else’s dirty clothes and the feeling of something skittering across my leg.
—Literary Hub, 16 Jan. 2026
The failure of Hollywood’s first take on Godzilla, which reimagined this towering icon into a skittering lizard that was clearly aping more from Jurassic Park than any of the kaiju films that came before it, positioned the start of Godzilla’s third era as something of a return to form.
—James Grebey, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skittering
Verb
-
DeMar DeRozan just slammed a water bottle to the floor, sending several courtside attendants scurrying into action to mop up the mess.—
HECTOR AMEZCUA,
Sacbee.com,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Crushed like a scurrying cucaracha on the kitchen floor.—
Greg Cote
January 30,
Miami Herald,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Meta boss appeared in a dark suit and gray tie, his signature chestnut curls slightly mussed, darting occasional nervous looks at the jury and the 20-year-old plaintiff, who sat in the courtroom gallery.—
Sonja Sharp,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Helicopter footage showed the man darting out from the wrecked Charger in a black T-shirt and white shorts.—
Jacob Beltran,
San Antonio Express-News,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The hand in motion, the fluttering scarf, the sparkling outfit.—
JD Barker,
Rolling Stone,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Nothing sparks a team quite like killing off a five-on-three, and Canada scored in transition just 14 seconds after Fast was freed, as Kristin O’Neill batted in a fluttering Fast rebound for a 1-0 lead.—
Hailey Salvian,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
To mark the third anniversary of his death, Holker in December shared clips of the pair dancing together and photos of them with their children.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
13 Feb. 2026
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Whether at Artistic Edge Dance Centre in Hartland or on a competition stage, Jay Ramos-Rivera is constantly dancing.—
Bridget Fogarty,
jsonline.com,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Skittering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skittering. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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