as in to scurry
to move quickly and lightly along a surface
Dry leaves skittered over the sidewalk. Mice skittered across the floor.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of skitter
The slow-rolling single with skittering drum machine beats mashed against both mens’ drawling vocals is of a piece with Jelly’s frequent lyrical focus on mental health and his battles with substance use.
—
Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 24 Jan. 2025
Several small, unsecured items fell and skittered across the cabin floor.
—Heather Steinberger, Robb Report, 22 Nov. 2024
Arthropleura lived between 290 million and 346 million years ago, skittering around the Earth’s tropical equator alongside other massive arthropods like the two-foot-long scorpion Pulmonoscorpius.
—Olatunji Osho-Williams, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024
Any horror novel worth its salt should make the heart race and the spine tingle, as if a great, hairy spider was skittering along each vertebrae.
—Jordan Kopy, People.com, 18 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for skitter
Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 24 Jan. 2025
Several small, unsecured items fell and skittered across the cabin floor.
—Heather Steinberger, Robb Report, 22 Nov. 2024
Arthropleura lived between 290 million and 346 million years ago, skittering around the Earth’s tropical equator alongside other massive arthropods like the two-foot-long scorpion Pulmonoscorpius.
—Olatunji Osho-Williams, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024
Any horror novel worth its salt should make the heart race and the spine tingle, as if a great, hairy spider was skittering along each vertebrae.
—Jordan Kopy, People.com, 18 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for skitter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skitter
Verb
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Their eyes are more sensitive to movement, so fast-moving visuals—like scurrying mice—are particularly engaging.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Apr. 2025
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Dismounting, the ship’s captain unlocked the outer gate, and his men scurried into the courtyard, squeezing through the small door that led into the gunpowder room.—
Andrew Lawler,
Smithsonian Magazine,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
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My eyes darted left and right, searching for my assailant in the storm.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
14 Apr. 2025
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On the other hand, your pup will dart to your room and wolf these down instantly.—
Julian Chokkattu,
Wired News,
11 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The goal was the result of a sensational play by Theodore, who collected a puck at the blue line, danced into open ice, froze Gustavsson with a slap shot fake, and fed Dorofeyev for a one-timer into a wide-open net.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 2025
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By 60 months, the child does not sing, dance, or act for you.—
Anna Giorgi,
Verywell Health,
21 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Endemic species of long, segmented bristle worms and tiny crustaceans graze on bacteria mats and flit among fields of chemosynthetic tube worms, growing thick as grass.—
Christian Elliott,
Smithsonian Magazine,
21 Apr. 2025
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During a hike through Robinsons Island, visitors can spot boreal chickadees, red crossbills and yellow warblers flitting along the branches, while the refuge’s many beaches are perfect for spotting shorebirds like the willet and greater yellowlegs.—
Jared Ranahan,
Forbes,
9 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The Chinese and Hong Kong flags flutter as screens display the Hang Seng Index outside the Exchange Square complex, which houses the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, on January 21, 2021 in Hong Kong, China.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
31 Mar. 2025
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Romantic connections will sweeten up by April 30 regardless, as your amorous ruler Venus finally flutters back into your relationship sector, softening your heart to the healing magic of love.—
Nina Kahn,
StyleCaster,
24 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Skitter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skitter. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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