1
as in excitable
easily excited by nature
the skittish colt leapt up when we approached
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in timid
easily frightened
the cat is skittish around people she doesn't know
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in volatile
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly
a skittish housing market had both buyers and sellers on edge
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of skittish
What looked like a shadow at first turned out to be the dog, skittish and exhausted from wandering.
—
Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
He still tippy-taps in the pocket like a skittish rookie.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 23 Sep. 2025
But, as institutions grew skittish, the duo pivoted, tapping a pool of high-net-worth women.
—Geri Stengel, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The program doesn’t phase out until 2030, but investors are already skittish, said Clayton Munnings, a climate economist who leads the climate advocacy group Clean and Prosperous California.
—Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for skittish
Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
He still tippy-taps in the pocket like a skittish rookie.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 23 Sep. 2025
But, as institutions grew skittish, the duo pivoted, tapping a pool of high-net-worth women.
—Geri Stengel, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The program doesn’t phase out until 2030, but investors are already skittish, said Clayton Munnings, a climate economist who leads the climate advocacy group Clean and Prosperous California.
—Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for skittish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skittish
Adjective
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And while her personality — playful, curious, excitable — certainly comes through, these calls are dominated by interruptions.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
7 Nov. 2025
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Even though this is a super chill and calm Full Moon, the energy can be excitable and erratic for most of us, due to the proximity of the Moon to the Earth.—
Lisa Stardust,
Refinery29,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Somewhat soft-spoken, Riccoboni is hardly timid in his art.—
Michael James Rocha,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Nov. 2025
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Not as impressive is its thin and timid use of Star Wars' unique setting.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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First, the electrodes and electrolytes are adjusted to handle high temperatures, specifically replacing the volatile liquid electrolyte used in traditional Li batteries.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Taking the long view Many finance leaders remain cautious, viewing bitcoin as too volatile—especially recently—compared to traditional assets.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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In 2024, Mark looked nervous watching Grace compete in a horse show.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
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Senior dogs, puppies, or nervous rescues may require specialized care.—
Maria Williams,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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This combination allows for precise navigation in tight or unpredictable environments.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Nov. 2025
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Tinker was brilliant, unpredictable, and slightly unhinged.—
Henry Selick,
IndieWire,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Skittish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skittish. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
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