1
as in excitable
easily excited by nature
the skittish colt leapt up when we approached
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in timid
easily frightened
the cat is skittish around people she doesn't know
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
But injuries limited him to just 31 games in his junior and senior seasons, no doubt making the B’s skittish about signing him.
—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
20 May 2026
These dour trends align with what economically skittish Americans told pollsters who create the Conference Board’s consumer confidence index.
—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
18 May 2026
But if studios arrive feeling skittish about spending money, not even that famous French sunshine will heat up an ice cold marketplace.
—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
12 May 2026
The staff manning the cart periodically struck the metal tops of the bottles of Clase Azul, a flourish that caused a few jumps among the more skittish attendees.
—
Aidan McLaughlin,
Vanity Fair,
26 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for skittish
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
20 May 2026
These dour trends align with what economically skittish Americans told pollsters who create the Conference Board’s consumer confidence index.
—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
18 May 2026
But if studios arrive feeling skittish about spending money, not even that famous French sunshine will heat up an ice cold marketplace.
—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
12 May 2026
The staff manning the cart periodically struck the metal tops of the bottles of Clase Azul, a flourish that caused a few jumps among the more skittish attendees.
—
Aidan McLaughlin,
Vanity Fair,
26 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for skittish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skittish
Adjective
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The studio released the official trailer for the film on Thursday, showing Edgar-Jones as the formidable Elinor Dashwood; Esmé Creed-Miles as her excitable sister, Marianne; and Bodhi Rae Breathnach as their youngest sibling, Margaret.
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The excitable kids had been instructed several times to give Bryce Young room.
Adjective
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Playing Mary Bennet — Elizabeth’s younger and more timid sister — Bruccoleri set out to portray the coming of age story of a Regency woman.
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Don’t be timid; get the crust good and wet before proceeding.
Adjective
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Related Stories Set in 1948 Malaya in the volatile years that followed the end of World War II, the film traces a Malay soldier and a British soldier who are left behind after the British military withdraws.
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While the rally continued into early 2026, trade soon turned volatile.
Adjective
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At Clis boutique in Melrose Park, owner Jeimmy Espina is nervous and overwhelmed by the number of dead and injured in her home country.
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Apple head honchos are nervous about cybersecurity – and one reason might be a recent supply chain attack on supplier Tata, the largest Indian company of its kind to ink a partnership with the front-running American smartphone company.
Adjective
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Analysts expect gas prices to continue falling but remain unpredictable due to geopolitical tensions.
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Your personal life could feel crowded, unpredictable and emotionally overwhelming, Scorpio.
Cite this Entry
“Skittish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skittish. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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