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 game almost ended on Scott’s first pitch to Bailey when Dodgers catcher Ben Rortvedt made a smothering stop to keep the ball from skittering to the backstop, which, in hindsight, might have been an act of grace for the home team.
—
Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
The aforementioned eyeball alien buries itself deep into its prey before popping out and skittering along the floor like the world’s loudest spider.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2025
Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
The aforementioned eyeball alien buries itself deep into its prey before popping out and skittering along the floor like the world’s loudest spider.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skittering
Verb
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Normally, the hours and days before the prospect of a shutdown on Capitol Hill are filled with scenes of lawmakers and aides scurrying about to negotiate possible settlements.—
Alexander Bolton,
The Hill,
30 Sep. 2025
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After scurrying through passengers, the scared kitten ended up in the arms of New York native Betsaida Mercado, who picked up the feline and took her home.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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His darting run and assist against Napoli, later followed by a goal, speak to that impact.—
Paul Tenorio,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
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Inevitably, someone ended up swinging a quilt around to mimic the great snake’s darting heads and churning coils.—
Seamus Sullivan
September 29,
Literary Hub,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Chinese national flag fluttering with the Lujiazui Financial District in the background.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
13 Oct. 2025
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Longer pieces reached the tops of her cheekbones, fluttering out like wings.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
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That means the boot camp — led by vocal coaches, renowned producers, fitness trainers and star choreographers — will go beyond the fundamental basics of singing and dancing by including mental health care, physical wellness, media training and global studies.—
Griselda Flores,
Billboard,
10 Oct. 2025
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The video shows Gilbert and his mother Shirley Gilbert, a retired teacher and alumna of the district, dancing at 11 schools across the city as students from James Madison and Riverside high schools drum the catchy rhythm in the background.—
Kayla Huynh,
jsonline.com,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Skittering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skittering. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
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