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
  • But within the house, violence lurked like flammable gas.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Apr. 2026
  • The short answer is that a wide gulf exists between rumor and fact and Swalwell lurked in that gray space, living and thriving in the shadows between provability and denial.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The man was not a hotel guest and allegedly sneaked around the hotel’s key card security system.
    Larry Seward, Miami Herald, 15 May 2026
  • Defenseman John Carlson made a weak play off his forehand along the left-wing wall that was devoured by Ivan Barbashev, who snuck the puck past Granlund to Dorofeyev for a goal from the slot.
    Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 15 May 2026
Verb
  • The farmer then slipped into a coma and only came out of it a few weeks later, with doctors calling him a miracle, per the BBC.
    Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
  • However, last season the singer quietly slipped into stadiums and attended every home game largely under the radar.
    Bryan West, USA Today, 15 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Skulked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skulked. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

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