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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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

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 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
  1. sneaks
  2. lurks
  3. hides
  4. skunks
  5. lies
  6. sneakers
  7. lurkers
  8. snakes
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
  • But amid the crooning local singers and walks down memory lane, trouble lurks.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 29 July 2026
  • But now, China lurks just offstage, preparing to bring the steel era’s industrial logic back into the story, using scale, subsidies and price pressure to test how durable today’s AI fortunes really are.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 July 2026
Definition of lurks
Verb
  • Yet the secondhand market often hides real bargains for those willing to hunt them down.
    — Damian Peach, Space.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • As recalled in the book, a group of outlaws hides out in the town of Derry while fleeing the FBI, robbing and murdering store owners and causing all-around chaos.
    — Matt Minton, Variety, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of hides
Noun
  • Rabies is more common in bats and skunks, who occasionally transfer the deadly infection to pets.
    — Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 31 July 2026
  • Now the skunk is saying somebody else stinks, though the smell does lead to Infantino and this FFE plan.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
Definition of skunks
Verb
  • Throughout the course of their investigation, investigators were led to an address in Nelson, Missouri, which lies between Kansas City and Columbia.
    — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026
  • The significance lies less in the sum stolen than in the nature of the failure.
    — Susie Violet Ward, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of lies
Noun
  • The suede and mesh sneakers feature memory foam padding and anti-slip outsoles for a comfortable and supportive fit.
    — Isabel Bekele, InStyle, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Finish with classic white sneakers, or make a statement in vibrant yellow or bold red.
    — Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of sneakers
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
  • Medusa is raped by Poseidon, but because Poseidon raped her in Athena’s temple, Athena takes it as an affront and blames Medusa, cursing her by turning her hair into snakes.
    — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 27 July 2026
  • The deadliest animal to have ever roamed the earth is not the great white shark, or snakes, or even rats that caused three great plagues in history, decimating the human population at the time.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 26 July 2026
Definition of snakes

Browse Nearby Words

skulking
skulks
skull
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Skulks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skulks. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on skulks

Nglish: Translation of skulks for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of anecdote

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All