1
as in darting
to make an irregular series of quick, sudden movements
a lonely butterfly fluttering across the lawn
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in flapping
to move or cause to move with a striking motion
fluttered my eyelashes as I struck up a conversation with the new guy at work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fluttering
Stroll the Butterfly Garden to see butterflies fluttering about the plants that were planned especially to give them a home.
—
Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 21 Aug. 2025
The ubiquitous television graphics, TRUMP-PUTIN SUMMIT, with fluttering American and Russian flags.
—Richard Stengel, Time, 16 Aug. 2025
Irregular heart rhythms, called arrhythmias, might feel like fluttering or racing in the chest.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Aug. 2025
Sometimes, there are strips of cloth fluttering off branches in hopes of prayers answered.
—Diaa Hadid, NPR, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fluttering
Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 21 Aug. 2025
The ubiquitous television graphics, TRUMP-PUTIN SUMMIT, with fluttering American and Russian flags.
—Richard Stengel, Time, 16 Aug. 2025
Irregular heart rhythms, called arrhythmias, might feel like fluttering or racing in the chest.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Aug. 2025
Sometimes, there are strips of cloth fluttering off branches in hopes of prayers answered.
—Diaa Hadid, NPR, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fluttering
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fluttering
Verb
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And Bryce Harper made a play on a bunt, darting into the infield and throwing the ball to Alec Bohm at third for a force-out to keep runners on first and second.—
Charlotte Varnes,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
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Weeks of driving around the Central Valley, darting between muddy fields not unlike the very birds they were hired to monitor, has reinforced to Carr and Stallworth how much available habitat remains.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Birds can soar through the sky for long periods without flapping their wings.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Sep. 2025
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Well, the 23-year-old Belgian was among Europe’s best shot-stopping goalkeepers last season, is quick off his line and appears to be pretty composed, which would be ideal around his two flapping new goalkeeper team mates.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Expect flocks of vibrant flamingos and tiny flitting hummingbirds spreading their wings over the turquoise waters and tangles of mangroves that unfold across lagoons that stretch parallel to the sea.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Sep. 2025
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To a different namesake, all this flitting indecision might seem like disrespect.—
Jason O'Bryan,
Robb Report,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Auroras — Crown of Light by Kavan Chay Photographer Kavan Chay took this spectacular image of a red, green and yellow aurora dancing through the starry sky above Tumbledown Bay in New Zealand on May 10, 2024 during a category G5 geomagnetic storm.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
12 Sep. 2025
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Some of these videos showcase previous successes, such as a clip showing an 8-year-old boy and a 5-year-old girl dancing together on snowboards.—
Maria Williams,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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While you guys had staff inside laughing, pointing and even flicking off the crowd outside.—
Megan Cartwright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fluttering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fluttering. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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