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skulking

verb

present participle of skulk
1
as in lurking
to move about in a sly or secret manner I thought I saw someone skulking about in the shadows

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in hiding
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 skulking Mars spends most of the month in Cancer, skulking defensively through your 12th house. — Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Aug. 2026 In the aforementioned Sylvia, Gwyneth Paltrow stares moodily into the void or shrieks at Daniel Craig’s skulking Hughes for coming home late. — Literary Hub, 1 July 2026 Post-Order 66 Jedi are often just lesser versions of Obi-Wan Kenobi or Yoda, skulking around in swamps and deserts, but this duo can't seem to stay away from the action. — Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 6 Apr. 2026 Advertisement Some have described voting out of fear, with security personnel in traditional clothing and sunglasses and armed policemen skulking around polling areas, according to ABC. — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 23 Jan. 2026 The film’s John Slattery, who has fallen on hard times after the halcyon days of Mad Men and is skulking in the Valley, is enlisted to help with the endeavor. — Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 23 Jan. 2026 This leaves Stephen skulking away to plot his revenge some other way. — Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 20 Jan. 2026 The Serious-Minded Coach would hide behind the cloak of plausible deniability and let his agent do the dirty work before skulking out of town to his next gig. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 28 Nov. 2025 No longer limited to skulking around on a bar cart, metallic finishes like aluminum and brass are in the midst of a dazzling comeback. — Kathryn O’Shea-Evans, Robb Report, 9 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skulking
  1. lurking
  2. hiding
  3. sneaking
  4. lying
Verb
  • Use cool water to avoid shrinkage, skip the fabric softener, and use a small amount of mild detergent to avoid detergent residue from lurking on the fabric after washing.
    — Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Small dust particles and annoying pathogens can be lurking all around your home causing allergies to flair.
    — George Yang, PC Magazine, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of lurking
Verb
  • This is precisely why one of your first purchases this season should be a fall jacket for women that complements and enhances your outfit, rather than hiding it.
    — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 29 Sep. 2026
  • All told, the McCauleys stole at least $12 million, getting creative in hiding cash — by stuffing it into jars of spaghetti sauce, for example.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of hiding
Verb
  • Imagine sneaking into a math library and combing through every mathematical text ever written.
    — Lyndie Chiou, Scientific American, 22 Sep. 2026
  • The Chiefs placed Royals at tight end on the line, sneaking him across the back of the end zone on a drag route.
    — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of sneaking
Verb
  • Jordende Pierre, 29, was arrested Thursday in Malden, Massachusetts, after the woman was found earlier this month in the attic of an apartment building, undressed on a mat and lying near a bucket of urine, according to CNN affiliates WCVB and WFXT.
    — Alex Stambaugh, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Vogue’s Favorite Backless Loafers The loafer mule emerged as a breakout style last spring after more than a decade of lying dormant, and appearing on the runways at Gucci, Balenciaga, and Chanel.
    — Christina Holevas, Vogue, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of lying

Browse Nearby Words

skulkers
skulking
skulks
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Cite this Entry

“Skulking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skulking. Accessed 1 Oct. 2026.

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