flighty

adjective

ˈflī-tē 

flightier; flightiest

1

: swift

2

: lacking stability or steadiness:

a

: easily upset : volatile

a flighty temper

b

: easily excited : skittish

a flighty horse

c

: capricious, silly

flightily

ˈflī-tə-lē 

adverb

flightiness

ˈflī-tē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• excitable
• fiddle-footed
• fluttery
• high-strung
• hyper
• hyperactive
• hyperexcitable
• hyperkinetic
• jittery
• jumpy
• nervous
• skittery
• skittish
• spasmodic
• spooky

Examples of flighty in a Sentence

an actress who specializes in playing silly, flighty women

you have to be quiet while the deer are grazing, as they are flighty animals and will run if they hear you

Recent Examples on the Web

But unlike her flighty character, Sorkin was a skilled and experienced comedy writer. —Abraham Josephine Riesman, Vulture, 4 Oct. 2024

Zegler sings a song (written for the show by the über record producer Jack Antonoff) at a Capulet party, and her performance roots Romeo, an otherwise flighty fellow, to the spot. —Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2024

Ever since the girls’ dad (Michael Hitchcock) came out as gay, their parents have been separated but also inseparable, in part because their flighty mom (Stephanie Faracy) is still in love with him. —Judy Berman, TIME, 26 Sep. 2024

But to me, the ultimate foundation is humility, being grounded, having your feet really connected to the earth — not being too flighty and too knowing of everything. —Mesfin Fekadu, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

flighty

adjective

ˈflīt-ē 

flightier; flightiest

1

: easily excited : skittish

flighty horses

2

: silly sense 3, frivolous

flightily

ˈflīt-ᵊl-ē 

adverb

flightiness

ˈflīt-ē-nəs 

noun