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
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
Others think the frugality signals economic skittishness.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 11 Aug. 2025
Allen hosting Black celebrities like Diahann Carroll despite network skittishness.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2025
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
Others think the frugality signals economic skittishness.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 11 Aug. 2025
Allen hosting Black celebrities like Diahann Carroll despite network skittishness.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skittishness
Noun
-
Somehow, this new sensation emitted an awareness of the magnitude in which skateboarding would warp my life, which only ratcheted up the anxiety of blowing it.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The news this week that an ICE agent had shot and killed a woman in Minnesota heightened his anxiety.—
Andrea Castillo,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Apple has been caught in the fray on worries that a tight memory cycle will eat into hardware gross margins, given that products such as iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches and Macs heavily use DRAM and NAND flash memory.—
Pia Singh,
CNBC,
29 Jan. 2026
-
There are significant worries that AI can readily go off the rails or otherwise dispense unsuitable or even egregiously inappropriate mental health advice.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Some of these investors are looking to ride the latest upward price trend and others are reacting to inflation concerns, economic uncertainties or broader market unease.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Niazi’s writing about her career moves also shows some unease with the personal.—
Lily Meyer,
The Atlantic,
29 Jan. 2026
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
-
Did the masks help alleviate any nerves?—
Yvonne Villarreal,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Magnesium Magnesium, a supplement usually used to relax muscles and nerves, is also promoted as an energy booster.—
Megan Nunn,
Verywell Health,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Four Sigmatic coffee contains less caffeine to help prevent jitteriness and energy crashes.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
-
The combination of green tea and L-theanine creates a calm alertness that supports mental clarity while reducing jitteriness.—
Angelica Bottaro,
Verywell Health,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Further talks were expected on Sunday in Abu Dhabi, but that could change because of a spike in tensions between the United States and Iran.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
-
The Minnesota Timberwolves released a statement from its players regarding the rising anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) tensions in Minneapolis.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Besides playing with his usual defensive edginess, Larsson chipped in 16 points (7-for-9 shooting), nine assists, six rebounds and a steal and twice managed to infuriate normally mild-manner veteran DeMar DeRozan, who body checked him to the ground on one sequence and clotheslined him on another.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
21 Jan. 2026
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To generate relevancy and influence, social-media algorithms demand spectacle, conflict, and edginess.—
Ali Breland,
The Atlantic,
23 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Skittishness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skittishness. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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