skittish

adjective

ˈski-tish How to pronounce skittish (audio)
Definition of skittishnext
1
as in excitable
easily excited by nature the skittish colt leapt up when we approached

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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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 skittish When the rescue started, 20 horses were too skittish to let rescuers approach, the organization said. — Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 June 2026 But the White House’s mixed messages on tariffs has made farmers skittish, and the resurgence of a parasite that eats their animals alive may only make things worse. — Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026 The two roles underline the actor’s formidable versatility, all skittish panic in the former and arrogant sociopathy in the other. — Joe Reid, Vulture, 13 June 2026 These dour trends align with what economically skittish Americans told pollsters who create the Conference Board’s consumer confidence index. — Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 18 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for skittish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skittish
  1. excitable
  2. timid
  3. volatile
  4. nervous
  5. unpredictable
Adjective
  • The studio released the official trailer for the film on Thursday, showing Edgar-Jones as the formidable Elinor Dashwood; Esmé Creed-Miles as her excitable sister, Marianne; and Bodhi Rae Breathnach as their youngest sibling, Margaret.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 25 June 2026
  • The excitable kids had been instructed several times to give Bryce Young room.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 1 June 2026
Definition of excitable
Adjective
  • But where the Baron is timid and bumbling, Krasznahorkai is expansive, charming, and courtly.
    — Merve Emre, New Yorker, 28 June 2026
  • Playing Mary Bennet — Elizabeth’s younger and more timid sister — Bruccoleri set out to portray the coming of age story of a Regency woman.
    — Arushi Jacob, Variety, 25 June 2026
Definition of timid
Adjective
  • Related Stories Set in 1948 Malaya in the volatile years that followed the end of World War II, the film traces a Malay soldier and a British soldier who are left behind after the British military withdraws.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 July 2026
  • While the rally continued into early 2026, trade soon turned volatile.
    — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 3 July 2026
Definition of volatile
Adjective
  • At Clis boutique in Melrose Park, owner Jeimmy Espina is nervous and overwhelmed by the number of dead and injured in her home country.
    — Shardaa Gray, CBS News, 1 July 2026
  • Apple head honchos are nervous about cybersecurity – and one reason might be a recent supply chain attack on supplier Tata, the largest Indian company of its kind to ink a partnership with the front-running American smartphone company.
    — John Werner, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of nervous
Adjective
  • Analysts expect gas prices to continue falling but remain unpredictable due to geopolitical tensions.
    — Keith Laing, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Your personal life could feel crowded, unpredictable and emotionally overwhelming, Scorpio.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
Definition of unpredictable

Browse Nearby Words

skittery
skittish
skittishly
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Cite this Entry

“Skittish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skittish. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on skittish

Nglish: Translation of skittish for Spanish Speakers

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