skulked

Definition of skulkednext
past tense of skulk
1
as in lurked
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 hid
to remain out of sight the animal control officers caught the stray cat that had been skulking behind some trash cans

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 skulked One roach skulked under a food prep table. David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 12 Dec. 2025 Soon after My Bloody Valentine skulked into the Wembley Arena spotlights, the initial roar of some 12,000 fans abated. Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 28 Nov. 2025 Money speaks, the land listens, where the Anarchist skulked, where the horsethief plied his trade, we fishers of Americans will cast our nets of perfect ten-acre mesh, leveled and varmint-proofed, ready to build on. Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2025 The models skulked through The Box like zombies from a past life. Nadja Sayej, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skulked
Verb
  • Shackleton began collecting interviews and shot evocative B-roll footage of ghostly California freeways and parking lots where the killer may have once lurked.
    Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 21 Nov. 2025
  • Darkness and desperation always lurked behind the gonzo decadence, a dynamic that’s missing on the comparatively bright-eyed Stardust.
    Stephen Kearse, Rolling Stone, 10 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • After Doherty picked up the award for Best Performance By a Female Actor in a Supporting Role On Television for her role on Adolescence, some of her sailor language sneaked onto the broadcast.
    Peter White, Deadline, 11 Jan. 2026
  • And when nothing was open in the game’s final seconds and his team needed the points, Beck snuck away from the defense and raced into the end zone for the game-winning touchdown.
    Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The words Canadian ice-hockey TV series slid into my brain and slipped right back out.
    Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 13 Jan. 2026
  • Tessa Thompson was ready to party and slipped into Balenciaga mules for Netflix’s 2026 Golden Globe after party at Spago on Sunday in Beverly Hills.
    Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 12 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Skulked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skulked. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.

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