1
as in lurking
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 hiding
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of skulking
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
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
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
The seeds of the love triangle between Robert, Blazer, and Invisigal are firmly planted now and ready to bloom into a total shitshow — especially with the blonde hero’s recent breakup with her boyfriend Phenomaman, who’s skulking about in a deep depression.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2025
Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 23 Jan. 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
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
The seeds of the love triangle between Robert, Blazer, and Invisigal are firmly planted now and ready to bloom into a total shitshow — especially with the blonde hero’s recent breakup with her boyfriend Phenomaman, who’s skulking about in a deep depression.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skulking
Verb
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Sunderland are lurking and, perhaps for the first time under Howe’s management, Newcastle are in deficit, needing a response (yet again) after a chastening night in Europe.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
20 Mar. 2026
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Wacky weather may still be lurking, but the ice on Indianapolis' concert calendar is starting to thaw.—
Domenica Bongiovanni,
IndyStar,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The lender is also alleging the whiskey company is hiding a receipt of a $20 million loan, in part, from rapper and businessman Jay-Z.—
Stephanie Kuzydym,
Louisville Courier Journal,
19 Mar. 2026
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Surveillance video later showed Coogler hiding in a nearby backyard shortly after the shooting.—
Richard Ramos,
CBS News,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Where dancing on sticky living room floors, sneaking beers from your parents' refrigerator and bumping music on stereos were hallmarks of adolescence.—
Jane Onyanga-Omara,
USA Today,
20 Mar. 2026
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Teenage boys sneaking to look at pornography is almost a rite of passage.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Latto has been lying low for the past few months, but Big Mama is back on the scene.—
Kyle Denis,
Billboard,
20 Mar. 2026
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The man is later seen lying motionless on the street as bystanders and police attempt to wake him.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Skulking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skulking. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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