1
as in excitable
easily excited by nature
the skittish colt leapt up when we approached
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2
as in timid
easily frightened
the cat is skittish around people she doesn't know
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3
as in volatile
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly
a skittish housing market had both buyers and sellers on edge
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of skittish
The 29-year-old looked skittish in the pocket, missing open receivers on throws and holding onto the ball for too long with defenders in his face.
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Ben Morse, CNN, 9 Oct. 2024
The Sterns would leave out food for him, but the weather was getting colder, and Bud was too skittish to make use of the insulated cat houses that the couple had set up.
—Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 7 Dec. 2024
But Andy’s transformation into Invincible Fight Girl takes time, something many networks seem increasingly skittish about giving newer projects.
—Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge, 2 Nov. 2024
Heavy hunting during Congo’s civil war in the late ’90s has made the elephants skittish of humans, and rehabituation takes time—as a result, such close encounters as these still aren’t without risk.
—Chris Schalkx, Vogue, 7 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for skittish 
Ben Morse, CNN, 9 Oct. 2024
The Sterns would leave out food for him, but the weather was getting colder, and Bud was too skittish to make use of the insulated cat houses that the couple had set up.
—Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 7 Dec. 2024
But Andy’s transformation into Invincible Fight Girl takes time, something many networks seem increasingly skittish about giving newer projects.
—Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge, 2 Nov. 2024
Heavy hunting during Congo’s civil war in the late ’90s has made the elephants skittish of humans, and rehabituation takes time—as a result, such close encounters as these still aren’t without risk.
—Chris Schalkx, Vogue, 7 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for skittish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skittish
Adjective
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If your weekly dog walker is especially good with your excitable fur-baby, consider giving additional Christmas cheer.Linley Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Dec. 2024
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Lou Carnesecca, the excitable St. John’s men’s basketball coach whose outlandish sweaters became an emblem of his team’s dazzling Final Four run in 1985, died at 99.Andrew Torgan, CNN, 1 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The timid 20-year-old who couldn’t cook himself a meal is now a reliable senior international and Premier League signing.Felipe Cardenas, The Athletic, 24 Dec. 2024
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In his roughly 12 minutes per game, Sheppard has looked timid and tentative, and unable to create anything off the dribble.Rahat Huq, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The flipside of it is that if bitcoin prices crater for any reason — volatile as cryptocurrency can be — MicroStrategy shares may stumble too.Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 24 Dec. 2024
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In true Mad Max fashion, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is every bit as volatile, visually captivating, and a downright glorious cinematic experience.Grace Dean, Space.com, 24 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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That could be especially helpful for passengers who are nervous about being on a ship.Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 24 Dec. 2024
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Others may be nervous about overusing sanctions, as Steven Mnuchin, the treasury secretary in Trump’s first administration, was.Henry Farrell, Foreign Affairs, 23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The psychological toll is equally devastating, leaving victims ashamed, isolated and fearful.Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, Fox News, 23 Dec. 2024
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The aging parent may know something is wrong and is fearful of losing control over their life.Carolyn Rosenblatt, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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However, logistical challenges, such as unpredictable weather, play a role in these considerations.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024
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Success, the author argues, is primarily the product of unpredictable social processes, support from famous sponsors, and a perfect match with the zeitgeist.Christian Stadler, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near skittish
Cite this Entry
“Skittish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skittish. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
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