SKULKS Synonyms: 48 Similar and Opposite Words

skulks 1 of 2

noun

plural of skulk

as in sneaks

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

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skulks

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of skulk

as in lurks

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in hides

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

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 skulks

Noun

Frank discovers Lee’s meddling and skulks into Arthur’s apartment and murders him. — Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025 Despite a restraining order against her, Lisa skulks around the twins’ school at drop-off and stalks them in the grocery store. — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2025

Verb

With Irene threatening Billie, Joe skulks back to his cement cell, but hears Irene torturing Billie in the next room. — Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for skulks

Noun

This combination of music and entertainment sneaks education in where kids least expect it.

— Parents, Parents, 10 July 2026
In this case, a creator pairs her sneaks with a graphic tee.

— Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 16 June 2026

Definition of sneaks

Verb

Those combinations are concentrated through the middle, where Messi generally lurks, with Argentina directing a smaller share of their passing towards the flanks than any other team.

— Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 20 July 2026
In Elliott’s Connecticut, the governor would send a busload of stern but compassionate counselors to protect workers hiding in their office where a gunman lurks.

— Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 18 July 2026

Definition of lurks

Verb

The aggregate hides what exactly is falling and what might still be holding up.

— Victor Karpenko, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Freeland resembles Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, drawing back the curtain that hides the smoke machine when the Wizard of Oz is not a wizard at all, but a carnival illusionist distracting the population.

— Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 22 July 2026

Definition of hides

Noun

Very Rivian also means yeti graphics on its vehicles, and Easter eggs like a frog and skunk underneath the washer fluid cover up front.

— Greg Migliore, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Compared to skunks and coyotes, raccoons were the quickest to discover that tapping the left button would release food, with most of the eight raccoon subjects unlocking the puzzle within one or two attempts.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 July 2026

Definition of skunks

Noun

There are leaders, lurkers, peacekeepers, instigators, and the person who only surfaces to drop an occasional thumbs-up.

— Sam Reed, Glamour, 18 May 2026
The Cubs and Padres are well clear of any lurkers for the top two spots, but the Mets have the last ticket in for now, with San Francisco, Arizona and Cincinnati all within 2 1/2 games of them.

— Chris Branch, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025

Definition of lurkers

Noun

The tracker implanted inside her will eventually lead the team to more snakes.

— Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026
More than 900 participants signed up for last year’s Python Challenge, and potentially as many are currently scouring for snakes amid the 2026 competition.

— Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 July 2026

Definition of snakes

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skulking

skulks

skull

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“Skulks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skulks. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of skulks

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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