1
2
as in to flow
to move or proceed smoothly and readily
a lone hang glider skimming along just above the treetops
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to brush
to pass lightly across or touch gently especially in passing
her hand just barely skimmed the wall as she ran down the hallway
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
5
as in to peek
to take a quick or hasty look
he impatiently skimmed through the book, looking for the specific passage he remembered seeing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of skim
The action sequences, specifically those involving the spaceship skimming the upper atmosphere of a distant planet, are breathtaking in scope.
—
Clayton Davis, Variety, 21 Mar. 2026
Pond skims a rite of spring Spring skiing can be variable.
—Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 18 Mar. 2026
The shot was pure, skimming atop the grass to nestle inside the far post.
—Josh Gross, Daily News, 15 Mar. 2026
Subtly curved ends punctuated her collarbone-skimming length, adding swinginess and movement.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for skim
Clayton Davis, Variety, 21 Mar. 2026
Pond skims a rite of spring Spring skiing can be variable.
—Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 18 Mar. 2026
The shot was pure, skimming atop the grass to nestle inside the far post.
—Josh Gross, Daily News, 15 Mar. 2026
Subtly curved ends punctuated her collarbone-skimming length, adding swinginess and movement.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for skim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skim
Verb
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Martha watched all of this unfold from the flip-down seat by the window next to the Dutchman’s lower bunk.—
Cassandra Neyenesch,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
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Outside the most rare handful of cards, retail investors and collectors are flipping back open their dusty collection books from 20 or more years ago and hoping to strike gold.—
Brandon Gomez,
CNBC,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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One of the gates of these islands connects to the superconducting cavity built using Josephson junctions that allow quantum currents to flow and complete a microwave circuit.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Apr. 2026
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But what was unusual was the kind of information that began to flow in from her audience.—
Rufina Chow,
NBC news,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Its tulle is brittle and sharp, brushing against my fur like a thousand tiny teeth, a cruel lover that bites with every move.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
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Guerrero brushed her sister’s hair.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Then, in first-half stoppage time, Brazil pounced on the counterattack after a Croatia corner kick bounced to the feet of Matheus Cunha.—
Kyle Foley,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 Apr. 2026
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Campaign sponsors hoped that anyone unaware of her story — an innocent young woman killed by a man who’d bounced in and out of prison — might see her face, find the security video of her brutal death, and be moved.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Bits of the building’s pink skin have started to peek out like spring blossoms on the construction site at 2nd and Olive.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Mar. 2026
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From the curb, 170 Benvenue is a darling Cape with four perfect little dormers peeking out of its roof, just below a stone chimney.—
Miriam Schwartz,
Boston Herald,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Any second, surely, Dad’s tan Mercedes would glide into view and start its rumbling, lumbering ascent up the gravel drive.—
Kate Crane,
Rolling Stone,
2 Apr. 2026
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Without a bobber stopper, on a slack line, your bullet weight will sink to the bottom, but your soft plastic will slowly glide towards the bottom while enticing hungry bass into biting.—
Derek Horner,
Outdoor Life,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Xavier kisses his wife and son, sends them on their way above ground, and goes after Presley.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
30 Mar. 2026
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Boozer caught up to Ball at the rim, but the guard muscled his way toward the bucket anyway, kissing the ball of the glass to score and draw an and one.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Walsh also recommended offering more flexibility in work schedules so employees can skip the gas-guzzling gridlock of peak commute hours.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
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Be wary of the temptation to skip steps along the way or assume people will just get it.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Skim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skim. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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