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
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
  • Wear them to work with a pair of cute loafers and a spring blouse, or dress them down with a tee and your favorite sneaks for a comfy-casual look.
    Madeline Merinuk, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Fields also ran eight QB sneaks in 2025 — a play absent from the Chiefs playbook since Mahomes dislocated his kneecap on a sneak in 2019 — and converted seven of them.
    Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 17 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Boston lurks close behind at +550.
    ABC News, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
  • The Churchill Suite peers over the Ministry of Defence (where Henry VIII’s wine cellar still lurks) and was the locus of military strategising.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Wall hooks catch sun hats or coats, depending on the season, and the vintage Oushak rug hides stains with its existing patina.
    Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2026
  • This party-girl persona hides a tender heart.
    E.R. Pulgar, Pitchfork, 16 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Certain strains of the bacteria have figured out how to live happily in the kidneys of apparently healthy animals, including wildlife (such as rodents, raccoons, marine mammals and skunks, but also reptiles and amphibians) and domestic animals (such as cattle, pigs, horses, even dogs and cats).
    The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
  • Cicadas are a good food source for animals like birds, foxes, skunks and raccoons.
    Finch Walker, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Like the Strait of Hormuz, the Strait of Gibraltar, which lies between the southern tip of Europe and the northwestern tip of Africa, holds a history of shipping and conflict in its waters.
    Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026
  • That’s where the opportunity lies.
    Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Ubwdu Lace Ballet Sneakers These sneakers feel like a subtle nod to the balletcore trend without going full costume.
    Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 21 Apr. 2026
  • Available in both regular and petite lengths, the pants with a shorter inseam are ideal for my 5-foot-2 frame, hitting right at my ankle and pairing well with sneakers, sandals, or a short heel, depending on the occasion.
    Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 18 Apr. 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
  • The reptile guys are all just a bunch of normal schmucks looking to go find snakes.
    Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 16 Apr. 2026
  • Remove woodpiles, brush piles, dense vegetation, and ground cover, and this takes away hiding spots for snakes and their food sources.
    Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 11 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Skulks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skulks. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.

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