skulked

verb

past tense of skulk
1
as in lurked
to move about in a sly or secret manner I thought I saw someone skulking about in the shadows

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in hid
to remain out of sight the animal control officers caught the stray cat that had been skulking behind some trash cans

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 skulked One roach skulked under a food prep table. — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 12 Dec. 2025 The models skulked through The Box like zombies from a past life. — Nadja Sayej, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025 Money speaks, the land listens, where the Anarchist skulked, where the horsethief plied his trade, we fishers of Americans will cast our nets of perfect ten-acre mesh, leveled and varmint-proofed, ready to build on. — Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2025 Soon after My Bloody Valentine skulked into the Wembley Arena spotlights, the initial roar of some 12,000 fans abated. — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 28 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skulked
  1. lurked
  2. sneaked
  3. slipped
Verb
  • But a trap lurked within that framework.
    — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 25 June 2026
  • What once lurked in the online shadows has become a major talking point and cause for global concern among parents and politicians alike.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 24 June 2026
Definition of lurked
Verb
  • When grounders sneaked through the infield, his body language was uneventful.
    — Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • Some stuff released a bit earlier this week and snuck past me.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of sneaked
Verb
  • On Tuesday, French Open champion Alexander Zverev slipped worryingly on the baseline but was able to get straight back up.
    — Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 3 July 2026
  • The employment-to-population ratio slipped to 59% in June, the lowest since October 2021.
    — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 2 July 2026
Definition of slipped

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skulked
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Cite this Entry

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

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More from Merriam-Webster on skulked

Nglish: Translation of skulked for Spanish Speakers

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