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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Recent Examples of skittish
Economic worries and inflation Investors also remain skittish about the health of the U.S. economy and whether inflation is still falling after a spate of weak economic data and January's hotter-than-expected consumer price index.
—
Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025
This would also help the nonprofit attract private and foundation funding from entities that are a little skittish about its legal footing, and help more such centers open around the city.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 3 Feb. 2025
Even one Republican, Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, was skittish on the bill.
—Gray Rohrer, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2025
The benchmark index on Tuesday plummeted below its 125-day moving average, signaling investors are skittish, according to CNN’s Fear and Greed Index.
—Lucy Bayly, CNN, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for skittish
Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025
This would also help the nonprofit attract private and foundation funding from entities that are a little skittish about its legal footing, and help more such centers open around the city.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 3 Feb. 2025
Even one Republican, Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, was skittish on the bill.
—Gray Rohrer, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2025
The benchmark index on Tuesday plummeted below its 125-day moving average, signaling investors are skittish, according to CNN’s Fear and Greed Index.
—Lucy Bayly, CNN, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for skittish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skittish
Adjective
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Charlotte leaned in next to her little brother only for excitable Louis to suddenly turn, accidentally leading to a clash of heads.—
Faisal Kutty,
Newsweek,
11 Mar. 2025
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Star is probably the most excitable person in the history of the show.—
Dalton Ross,
EW.com,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Underdogs don't come much more awkward than Carrie White (so memorably played by Sissy Spacek), the timid, tragic heroine of Brian De Palma's freaky Stephen King adaptation.—
EW Staff,
EW.com,
3 Apr. 2025
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More timid than her siblings, Sheryl told Arcadia News that Sonora refused to dance at her first recital.—
Nicole Briese,
People.com,
23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Relievers have always been volatile, prone to inconsistency and bouts of wildness.—
Dennis Lin,
New York Times,
5 Apr. 2025
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Trading since has been extremely volatile, with the stock down 13% on Friday, leaving it 18% above its IPO price.—
Annie Palmer,Leslie Picker,
CNBC,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The Hill: Families and students are nervous about the fate of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid amid Trump’s massive cuts to the Department of Education and his plans to do away with it entirely.—
Alexis Simendinger,
The Hill,
7 Apr. 2025
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During her rehearsal, Windsor was visibly nervous and explained that the song was a risk.—
Daniela Avila,
People.com,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Military leaders fearful of losing their jobs or of being marginalized will have few incentives to advise their superiors on the risks or costs of military operations that are at odds with the Trump administration’s priorities.—
Risa Brooks,
Foreign Affairs,
8 Apr. 2025
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Historically, a company that is fearful about its cash generation in the near term probably wouldn’t be authorizing a new repurchase program.—
Matthew J. Belvedere,
CNBC,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Fittingly, given the unpredictable nature of the campaign, who knows what the result or circumstances will be at Tottenham Hotspur on the day Hurzeler’s first season draws to a close?—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2025
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Probably Not Complicating matters is that Trump’s trade policy is unpredictable.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
8 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Skittish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skittish. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.
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