skittish

adjective

skit·​tish ˈski-tish 

1

a

: lively or frisky in action : capricious

b

: variable, fluctuating

2

: easily frightened : restive

a skittish horse

3

a

: coy, bashful

b

: marked by extreme caution : wary

skittish investors

skittishly adverb

skittishness noun

Synonyms

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

Examples of skittish in a Sentence

We've been skittish about taking on such a large mortgage.

the skittish colt leapt up when we approached

Recent Examples on the Web

And institutional lenders could get skittish, becoming less willing to lend to nonbanks, thus limiting fintechs’ growth. —Jeff Kauflin, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025

And individual senators—even Trump himself—may well get more skittish as the midterms approach if the recent in Trump's popular support continue. —Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2025

When the studio got skittish about its $200 million budget, Verbinski split and the project sank. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025

Setting Dani’s debut in motion: When an undercover FBI agent was killed in the field, Jubal’s team made the unnerving discovery that the identities of multiple UCs have been compromised — including Maggie, who had just infiltrated an increasingly skittish eco-terrorist group. —Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 2 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from skit- (probably from Old Norse skyt-) + -ish

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for skittish

• british

Kids Definition

skittish

adjective

skit·​tish ˈskit-ish 

1

: lively or frisky in action

2

: easily frightened : restive

a skittish horse

3

: bashful

skittishly adverb

skittishness noun