skulk 1 of 2

1
as in to lurk
to move about in a sly or secret manner I thought I saw someone skulking about in the shadows

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2
as in to hide
to remain out of sight the animal control officers caught the stray cat that had been skulking behind some trash cans

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skulk

2 of 2

noun

as in weasel
someone who acts in a sly and secret manner were surprised to discover the skulk stealing from the garden was a raccoon

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How is the word skulk distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of skulk are lurk, slink, and sneak. While all these words mean "to behave so as to escape attention," skulk suggests more strongly cowardice or fear or sinister intent.

something skulking in the shadows

When is it sensible to use lurk instead of skulk?

While in some cases nearly identical to skulk, lurk implies a lying in wait in a place of concealment and often suggests an evil intent.

suspicious men lurking in alleyways

Where would slink be a reasonable alternative to skulk?

The synonyms slink and skulk are sometimes interchangeable, but slink implies moving stealthily often merely to escape attention.

slunk around the corner

In what contexts can sneak take the place of skulk?

The words sneak and skulk can be used in similar contexts, but sneak may add an implication of entering or leaving a place or evading a difficulty by furtive or underhanded methods.

sneaked out early

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 skulk
Verb
Gaga debuted it with an unforgettable SNL performance, skulking through the Studio 8H hallways like a woman possessed. Kristen S. Hé, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2025 Birdwatchers can keep their eyes on the skies in search of Eurasian sparrowhawks and peregrine falcons, while truly fortunate visitors might be able to catch a glimpse of an Italian wolf skulking through the park in search of prey. Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025 Red, skulking around the lower edge of the painting, seems subject to gravity’s laws in ways that blue is not. Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025 Some of the Jurassic giants took their sweet time, moving in fits and starts; others might have skulked more urgently. Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for skulk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skulk
Verb
  • MacBook Pro’s Faster Connectivity Alongside the M5 upgrade offering a 15 to 20 percent uplift in pure performance, another speedy upgrade is lurking inside the spec leaks of the next macOS laptop, namely Wi-Fi 7.
    Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
  • According to police estimates, there are over 450 active gangs, whose memberships total more than 45,000, lurking in Los Angeles alone.
    Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • Transparency is another issue: Pricing for procedures varies wildly and is often hidden until the bill arrives.
    Paulina Wierzbicka, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
  • The first iteration of Somni opened in 2018 inside the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills, a restaurant hidden inside of José Andrés’s Bazaar, but closed in 2020 as a pandemic casualty.
    Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 26 June 2025
Noun
  • But some, including pigeons, weasels, skunks, coyotes and most rodents, are excluded from such rules.
    Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 15 May 2025
  • In the heat of its bloodlust, the weasel had killed the entire flock.
    Louise Erdrich, New Yorker, 25 May 2025
Verb
  • Cane then sneaks up from behind and kills Grady’s men, freeing his father.
    Keith Langston, People.com, 21 June 2025
  • Universal Studios Florida began its iteration of the attraction in 1990, SyFy noted, featuring, of course, a (mechanical) great white shark that snuck up on riders of the boat tour.
    Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • Even Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander quickly went over, touched Haliburton on the head as the Pacers guard lay face-down on the court and offered a kind word.
    Tim Reynolds, Chicago Tribune, 23 June 2025
  • The answer lies in his DNA, intertwined with that soil in La Grange, where families in Lubbock County still lounge in backyards across Fayette County and swap tales of one Lawrence Dobbins.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 22 June 2025
Noun
  • The types of animals vary, but monkeys, skunks, racoons and crocodiles are the most common, the data shows.
    Natalia Jaramillo, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 June 2025
  • While deer are the most common animal stuck by vehicles, raccoons, skunks, opossums, squirrels and countless birds also fall victim.
    Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 30 May 2025
Noun
  • Potential signs of a snake bite include swelling, bruising, pain, drooling and weakness.
    Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
  • However, contrary to popular belief, cobras aren’t the fastest strikers in the snake world.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 22 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Skulk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skulk. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

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