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
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

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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
  1. sneaks
  2. lurks
  3. hides
  4. skunks
  5. lies
  6. sneakers
  7. lurkers
  8. snakes
Noun
  • The egg whites make for a savory, satisfying start, and the roasted red pepper sneaks in some vegetables.
    — Danielle Bouchard, Martha Stewart, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Available in several pastel hues and patterns, these high-vamp canvas sneaks look ultracomfy and flattering.
    — Cheryl Wagemann, InStyle, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of sneaks
Verb
  • What lurks over the next ridge or the next nightfall is anyone’s guess.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The Spurs superstar lurks down low near the basket, allowing guards to pressure aggressively on the perimeter.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of lurks
Verb
  • More than 60 miles into the Andaman Sea, South Asia’s only active volcano hides a thriving underwater world shaped by fire and teeming with life.
    — Avantika Chaturvedi, Travel + Leisure, 9 Nov. 2026
  • Its story follows the Forgers, a household that keeps up the appearance of an ordinary life while each member hides something.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of hides
Noun
  • Raccoons, coyotes, skunks, and crows are all attracted to lawns that are grub-enriched.
    — Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 12 Nov. 2026
  • People who live near landfills, though, describe smelling rotten cabbage, rotten eggs and rotten fish, as well as ammonia and skunk.
    — Alex Cuadros, ProPublica, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of skunks
Verb
  • Conveniently, Santiago lies just south of the Maipo Valley, which is famed for bold Cabernet Sauvignons and also home to the striking new Centro del Vino from Concha y Toro, Latin America’s largest wine producer.
    — Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Nov. 2026
  • Behind Daniel’s handsomely rugged, bearded face lies a perpetual melancholy.
    — Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 13 Nov. 2026
Definition of lies
Noun
  • On Monday, Powlis stood before Judge Elizabeth Shamahs with a dispassionate look on his goateed face, dressed in a black fleece, black sweats and navy New Balance sneakers.
    — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The actress paired her satin lounge pants with white sneakers, a varsity crewneck sweater, and oversized sunglasses.
    — Isabel Bekele, InStyle, 1 Nov. 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
  • Her character has roots in a rural West Virginia congregation famed for their serpent handling rituals, where worshippers handle live snakes to prove their faith.
    — Kenneal Patterson, Vanity Fair, 11 Nov. 2026
  • Zembower also questioned the ban on the sale of rabbits and whether the bans would eventually be proposed for other animals, including turtles and snakes.
    — Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of snakes

Browse Nearby Words

skulking
skulks
skull
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Cite this Entry

“Skulks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skulks. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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