skulks 1 of 2

Definition of skulksnext
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
1
as in lurks
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 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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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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skulks
Noun
  • According to Canales, the decision to not use Young on QB sneaks is about physics.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 16 Dec. 2025
  • Rocky sneaks after her, sprinting through Manhattan streets and even swimming across a river — all in red silk pajamas — to reach her and propose in a romantically cinematic gesture.
    Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 30 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • But beneath this viral joke among African Americans lurks a hidden history of slavery, voodoo, and rebellion.
    Essence, Essence, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Meanwhile, a manipulative judge, Roland Brack (Nicholas Pinnock), lurks around the fringes, hoping to seduce or even blackmail the electrically attractive Hedda.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • And while Americans’ overall ideological self-identification looks stable in the aggregate (37% very conservative/conservative, 34% moderate, 25% very liberal/liberal), a January 2025 Gallup poll shows that this steadiness hides tectonic tensions tugging beneath the surface.
    Robert T.F. Downes, Hartford Courant, 6 Jan. 2026
  • Now, Scieszka’s debut filters Tuck Everlasting-esque immortality through the social media age—examining how someone hides their eternal lifespan from facial recognition technology and venture capitalists looking to capitalize upon family property and the ultimate anti-aging secrets.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Thiols are responsible for the distinctive aromas of skunk spray and ripe durian; they’re also added to natural gas to provide a detectable rotten-egg smell at even trace levels.
    Nicola Twilley, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
  • Some owls will hunt the wildlife that raids our garbage cans, like skunks and opossums.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The issue lies squarely on the defensive side, where Cincinnati currently ranks as the worst in the NFL by a wide margin.
    Cole Sullivan, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025
  • As a stocky playmaker who rarely sprints and often reduces the game to walking pace in an increasingly breakneck sport populated by iron men, Cherki’s timing of arrival into English football is where the dichotomy lies.
    Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 8 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Sleek sneakers, like the Adidas Taekwondo Slip-on, are easy to walk in and style, pairing with trousers, dresses, or denim.
    Gabrielle Porcaro, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
  • The sneakers come in 21 colors — but users can score them for 20 percent off in specific shades, including white and cielo blue, carnation and starlight glow, and droplet and druzy.
    Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • 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
Noun
  • Scarecrows, plastic owls and snakes, flashy pinwheels, and wind chimes are also of questionable efficacy.
    Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Nov. 2025
  • According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, there are 44 species of native snakes in Florida, but just six are venomous.
    Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 2 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Skulks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skulks. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.

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