Synonyms of skittishness

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

• anxiety
• worry
• unease
• jumpiness
• nerves
• apprehensiveness
• jitteriness
• tension
• edginess
• flightiness
• restiveness
• fidgets
• apprehension
• fidgetiness
• restlessness
• agitation
• upset
• trepidation
• uneasiness
• perturbation
• anxiousness
• tenseness
• disquiet
• feverishness
• freneticism
• franticness
• hand-wringing
• jitters
• agita
• shakes
• shivers
• butterflies
• willies
• dither
• heebie-jeebies
• jimjams

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• confidence
• sureness
• self-confidence
• self-assurance
• control
• self-control
• ease
• composure
• coolness
• equanimity
• calmness
• equilibrium
• imperturbability
• poise
• aplomb
• calm
• easiness
• tranquility
• repose
• collectedness
• self-possession
• tranquilness

Example Sentences

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