SKITTISHNESS Synonyms: 59 Similar and Opposite Words

skittishness

noun

as in anxiety

a state of nervousness marked by sudden jerky movements because of the horse's skittishness and temperamental nature, only experienced riders should ride him

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of skittishness Was that skittishness behind Hollywood’s absence from Cannes this year? — Guy Lodge, Variety, 26 May 2026 Now, with early voting for the March 3 primary set to start next week, the mudslinging in both races is expected to soar, according to insiders with both parties watching with skittishness from Texas and Washington. — Philip Elliott, Time, 10 Feb. 2026 The skittishness with tech stocks subsided on Friday, with shares of Nvidia and Microsoft going up, as did the price of Bitcoin. — Carlos Garcia, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2026 Analysts and former diplomats told CNN that successive British governments have failed to strike the correct balance on China, resulting in a policy characterized by mistrust, skittishness and incoherence. — Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026 But their skittishness and brutality are qualities associated with fear, not resolve. — Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2026 Her singular blend of severity and skittishness is unrivalled in the poetry of her peers. — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025 If Monday’s recovery can shake off the skittishness felt during Friday’s rough market reversal . — John Melloy, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2025 Lewis says his skittishness stems from a fear that competitors will copy Darrow’s model, and from sensitivity around ethical rules about sharing attorneys’ fees with non-lawyers. — Jeff Kauflin, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for skittishness

Noun

The headlines often focus on uber-selective colleges and universities, the lengths students and parents will go to access them, and the parts of the process of applying that evoke the most anxiety.

— Brennan Barnard, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
One of the most dreadful packing pain points is the anxiety of whether everything will actually fit in your suitcase, which, thankfully, my Away Bigger Carry-on has eliminated.

— Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of anxiety

Noun

There have also been growing concerns that AI companies are propping each other up through a web of funding deals, with Nvidia at the heart of those worries.

— Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 31 July 2026
Those worries came to a head after the May election rout, leading to Starmer’s fall and Burnham’s rise.

— ABC News, ABC News, 30 July 2026

Definition of worry

Noun

Shares of Google parent Alphabet were around 4% lower in premarket trading, but that primarily reflected investor unease over rising AI spending outlined in the company's earnings report on Wednesday.

— Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 23 July 2026
There’s understandably a lot of unease and a lot of complaint.

— David Frum, The Atlantic, 22 July 2026

Definition of unease

Noun

Market jumpiness can serve as a good moment for those nearing the end of their career to make sure their nest egg is prepared for a downturn, Benz said.

— Annie Nova,Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 5 Mar. 2026
Conference Board economist Dana Peterson noted these state indexes have a history of statistical jumpiness.

— Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 30 Dec. 2025

Definition of jumpiness

Noun

Key Takeaways Most vitamins do not directly cause jitteriness, but certain supplements can make people feel shaky, restless, or overstimulated.

— Sara Hoffman, Verywell Health, 29 June 2026
The constant movement might make some audience members dizzy, yet its jitteriness signifies the anxiety and unease of the characters, both in their skin and with each other.

— Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 25 May 2026

Definition of jitteriness

Noun

As tensions rise with the Sacramento County Office of Education, Sacramento City Unified is pressing ahead with a new fiscal sustainability plan aimed at avoiding insolvency and preserving local control.

— Chaewon Chung July 30, Sacbee.com, 31 July 2026
Shaw also noted tensions with immigration enforcement crackdowns happening near school campuses.

— Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 July 2026

Definition of tension

Noun

Not, perhaps, in the context of last season and the edginess of this summer, but in the sense of meaning and finality.

— David Ornstein, New York Times, 30 July 2026
And for the 2026 ESPYs, her hairstylist, Anh Co Tran, made sure her hair remained inspo-pic-worthy, sweeping it into an intentionally imperfect updo that managed to balance elegance and edginess—just like the figure skater herself.

— Marci Robin, Allure, 16 July 2026

Definition of edginess

Browse Nearby Words

skittishly

skittishness

skive

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Skittishness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skittishness. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of skittishness

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

highfalutin

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly

Popular in Wordplay

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Jul. 31

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes