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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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 The zebras were a little more skittish, but the giraffes were confused by me. — Devon Ivie, Vulture, 20 July 2026 Diesel costs may continue to rise amid ongoing unrest in the strait and skittish oil investors wary of a global shortage, Miller said. — Max Zahn, ABC News, 17 July 2026 This is rugged and expensive work, with strong and skittish horses that can be spooked by a butterfly. — Steve Searles, Mercury News, 8 July 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for skittish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skittish
  1. excitable
  2. timid
  3. volatile
  4. nervous
  5. unpredictable
Adjective
  • Ross doesn’t tend towards punch-the-air climaxes—just warm, excitable builds.
    — Shaad D’Souza, Pitchfork, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Shaffelburg’s boundless enthusiasm and high work rate led one LAFC staffer to liken him to an excitable golden retriever, a comparison the player did not challenge.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of excitable
Adjective
  • Conversely, timid or softened feedback delivered to struggling employees creates a false sense of security, signaling that there is no urgency to adjust course.
    — Luciana Paulise, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Knight was timid, and his interview was practiced, Becker said.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of timid
Adjective
  • Dado Ruvic | Reuters Bitcoin headed for its third straight winning week, as traders searched for refuge amid volatile moves in equities, currencies and bond markets.
    — Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026
  • That meant trade reporting on the tape often ran late, sometimes hours late during a volatile market or big sell-off.
    — Brian Lund, Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of volatile
Adjective
  • The letter writer is almost 40 and nervous about living with a romantic partner for the first time.
    — Shane O’Neill, Washington Post, 3 Sep. 2026
  • That energy spike is reinforcing inflation worries in a bond market already nervous about America’s $40 trillion mountain of debt.
    — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of nervous
Adjective
  • The bond market is unpredictable, and falling rates doesn’t always necessarily mean that buying a home will become more affordable.
    — Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
  • This means its long-lasting effects are unpredictable, according to Harder.
    — Sofia Williams, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 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 5 Sep. 2026.

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