1
as in darted
to make an irregular series of quick, sudden movements
a lonely butterfly fluttering across the lawn
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in flapped
to move or cause to move with a striking motion
fluttered my eyelashes as I struck up a conversation with the new guy at work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fluttered
Her eyes fluttered open then closed.
—
Jayme Fraser, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
The clergy made a full lap around the field to make sure all the angles were covered, including the end where Loop's very makeable kick fluttered wide.
—CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
Almost 35 years later, the fight that started before that single envelope fluttered into his cell is not over.
—Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 27 Dec. 2025
Around her, leaves fluttered in the autumn breeze, a verdant array that suggested the Colorado might be flowing in its channel nearby.
—Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 15 Dec. 2025
The ball fluttered into the hands of end Ashton Gillotte, who had dropped back in coverage.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 14 Dec. 2025
Trailing by multiple goals for the first time in November, the Wild finally broke through in the final seconds of the period when a Faber shot from the blue line deflected off a Chicago player and fluttered through the air, off the post and in.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 27 Nov. 2025
Packers kicker Brandon McManus attempted a last-second, 64-yard field goal that fluttered and fell nowhere close.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2025
Wings fluttered, tutus twirled and butterfly clips bobbed atop tiny heads as tiny hands, stained with chalk, turned the worn road into a living storybook.
—Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 10 Nov. 2025
Jayme Fraser, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
The clergy made a full lap around the field to make sure all the angles were covered, including the end where Loop's very makeable kick fluttered wide.
—CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
Almost 35 years later, the fight that started before that single envelope fluttered into his cell is not over.
—Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 27 Dec. 2025
Around her, leaves fluttered in the autumn breeze, a verdant array that suggested the Colorado might be flowing in its channel nearby.
—Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 15 Dec. 2025
The ball fluttered into the hands of end Ashton Gillotte, who had dropped back in coverage.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 14 Dec. 2025
Trailing by multiple goals for the first time in November, the Wild finally broke through in the final seconds of the period when a Faber shot from the blue line deflected off a Chicago player and fluttered through the air, off the post and in.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 27 Nov. 2025
Packers kicker Brandon McManus attempted a last-second, 64-yard field goal that fluttered and fell nowhere close.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2025
Wings fluttered, tutus twirled and butterfly clips bobbed atop tiny heads as tiny hands, stained with chalk, turned the worn road into a living storybook.
—Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 10 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fluttered
Verb
-
Schools of fish drifted one above the other in a shifting, shimmering mesh, as neon-bright parrotfish, damselfish, and Moorish idols darted by.—
Flora Stubbs,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Feb. 2026
-
The child, who the company said darted out from behind another vehicle, suffered minor injuries.—
Kathryn Watson,
CBS News,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But Chelsea — and Garnacho — responded again, the Argentina international reducing the arrears again after some Kepa had flapped at a cross.—
Simon Johnson,
New York Times,
14 Jan. 2026
-
A little way down the bank, a hoatzin flapped awkwardly in dense foliage.—
Stanley Stewart,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Even at 4 degrees below zero, waxwings flitted outside our room, which had a sauna large enough to be its own hotel room.—
Boris Fishman,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Valentino and his longtime partner Giancarlo Giammetti flitted among their homes — which also included places in New York, London, Rome, Capri and Gstaad, Switzerland — traveling with their pack of pugs.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
One of the numerous symbolism-laden vignettes that the Puerto Rican rapper danced through was that of a little boy watching his historic Grammy win on an old-fashioned television set with his parents in their living room.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The 33-year-old musical sensation danced alongside fellow celebrities like Karol G and Pedro Pascal as Bad Bunny delivered an emotional tribute to the American continent and his home island of Puerto Rico.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The day Hanceville’s police department was eliminated, a switch was flicked in a dispatch center at the county sheriff’s office in Cullman.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Off a pass from Alex Carpenter, Knight went streaking up the right side of the ice, fended off a defender and then flicked a goal into the top of the net.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fluttered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fluttered. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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