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

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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 Gorky was using European traditions—Roberto Matta’s Surrealism, Picasso’s neoclassicism, Cézanne’s explorations—to make work that captured New York’s sexiness, skittishness, and force. — Hilton Als, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026 This summer, major shoe brands from Nike to Adidas to Under Armour to On have each expressed skittishness about the retail environment for sneaker sales. — Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 25 Aug. 2026 Hybrids past and present High fuel prices, broader selection and lingering skittishness around EV range and charging are pushing an unprecedented number of buyers toward hybrids. — Robert Ferris, CNBC, 23 July 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for skittishness

Noun

Off-camera, though, Hansen’s self-loathing and anxiety are off the charts.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2026
Since the assault, the woman has experienced post-traumatic stress disorder, severe anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression.

— Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of anxiety

Noun

Oil prices edged higher Thursday as worries over escalating tensions in the Middle East and their impact on energy supplies kept Brent crude above $100 a barrel.

— Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2026
That worsened inflation worries and cranked up pressure in the bond market, helping send stocks lower again on Wall Street.

— Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of worry

Noun

Her government was also the first led by a party with neo-fascist roots, and European allies and financial markets viewed her with unease.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
The rise in bond yields is a global phenomenon, rooted in investors’ unease over unchecked government spending and intensified by bets that central banks may keep interest rates higher for longer.

— John Towfighi, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 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

In deep money trouble with local mob boss Abu Rabih (Haytham Chamass), Hamza is all bristly nerves, always a hair’s breadth from falling apart, and, for the other characters and the audience alike, perhaps the riskiest element of the scheme.

— Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2026
That are, again, all spoken at the same time, in a manner that could grate the nerves coming from the hands of any other filmmaker, but Herzog is entirely sincere and irony-free in his handling.

— Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of nerves

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

In a time of strained Spanish-American relations, Kuss is doing his part in easing diplomatic tensions.

— Chris Marshall-Bell, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
When Jenn and Emily return, Shannon tries to cut the tension by talking about jarred pizza sauce (the only real laugh-out-loud moment of the episode), but there’s no salvaging this night.

— Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of tension

Noun

In many ways, this movie set the template for the modern action-comedy blockbuster, but few of its many imitators have come close to matching the spunky edginess and swooning romantic intrigue of the original trend-setter.

— Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Aug. 2026
The edginess of your bob is directly correlated to its length.

— Calin Van Paris, InStyle, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of edginess

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skittishly

skittishness

skive

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“Skittishness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skittishness. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of skittishness

noun

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