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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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
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
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As Kate Niederhoffer and Jeffrey Hancock note in Harvard Business Review, forced AI adoption amid layoffs breeds resistance, anxiety, and plummeting morale.—
Steve Denning,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
-
Many children manage anxiety with therapy and medication.—
Kimberly Zapata,
Parents,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
Even Republican leaders expressed worries.—
Eric McDaniel,
NPR,
11 June 2026
-
Flynn wants allied coordination and worries about unilateral overreach.—
Mayra Rodriguez Valladares,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
The hand and shards instantly suggest a Christian martyrology, and paired with that title give this cover a peaceful unease.—
Emily Temple,
Literary Hub,
11 Dec. 2025
-
Aside from the unease of contemplating something unfamiliar, stories involving driverless cars don’t always inspire confidence.—
Eric D. Lawrence,
Freep.com,
9 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Conference Board economist Dana Peterson noted these state indexes have a history of statistical jumpiness.—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
30 Dec. 2025
-
His jumpiness in the pocket, decision-making and lack of deep passes are a cause for concern, potentially.—
Chase Gemes,
Kansas City Star,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Guillermo Ochoa, who will be playing in his sixth World Cup with Mexico, is considered by many to be the ideal experienced goalkeeper to use during the opener, when nerves are sure to be high.—
Eduard Cauich,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
-
Researchers think these blankets' pressure on the body calms nerves, easing stress responses and boosting sleep-promoting hormones.—
Mark Gurarie,
Health,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
High doses of caffeine can increase jitteriness, anxiety, GI upset, elevated heart rate, and sleep disruption.—
Mira Miller,
Verywell Health,
1 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
Noun
-
Stark and simple, yet taut with tension—its minimalist layout and precise typography immediately arrest the eye.—
Emily Temple,
Literary Hub,
11 Dec. 2025
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But Thursday’s tensions center largely on the differences in perspectives between the newsroom and its product divisions.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
11 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Maslany is the dynamic center of a story that twists in unexpected directions, giving Paula enough intelligence, warmth, and edginess to make her character cohere.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
20 May 2026
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Alvarado is only 6-foot, but the five-year NBA veteran finds ways to overcome his undersized stature with energy, edginess and IQ.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Skittishness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skittishness. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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