as in scurried
to move quickly and lightly along a surface
Dry leaves skittered over the sidewalk. Mice skittered across the floor.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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 skittered
Gu skittered off the first rail and toppled to her side, dashing her title hopes.
—
Joseph Wilson, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026
The two tuxedo cats skittered uneasily away from her, afraid of what kind of chaos this toddling creature would bring into their lives.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 7 Feb. 2026
Smaller critters — hermit crabs, lightning whelks and snails — skittered along the seafloor.
—Max Chesnes, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
Ahead of me, five more disembodied beams skittered across the snow, each emitting from the skiers ahead of me.
—Tim Neville, Travel + Leisure, 27 Jan. 2026
But Pastrnak had already headed up ice and the puck skittered into no-man’s land.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 24 Dec. 2025
Bats were flipped, benches cleared, Toronto’s manager was ejected and throws skittered around PNC Park.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
Rumors of a Satanic curse on the event skittered around the Haight, so early on the morning of the 14th, Ginsberg, Snyder, and Alan Watts conducted a pradakshina, a Buddhist purification rite.
—Dennis McNally, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2025
Joseph Wilson, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026
The two tuxedo cats skittered uneasily away from her, afraid of what kind of chaos this toddling creature would bring into their lives.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 7 Feb. 2026
Smaller critters — hermit crabs, lightning whelks and snails — skittered along the seafloor.
—Max Chesnes, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
Ahead of me, five more disembodied beams skittered across the snow, each emitting from the skiers ahead of me.
—Tim Neville, Travel + Leisure, 27 Jan. 2026
But Pastrnak had already headed up ice and the puck skittered into no-man’s land.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 24 Dec. 2025
Bats were flipped, benches cleared, Toronto’s manager was ejected and throws skittered around PNC Park.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
Rumors of a Satanic curse on the event skittered around the Haight, so early on the morning of the 14th, Ginsberg, Snyder, and Alan Watts conducted a pradakshina, a Buddhist purification rite.
—Dennis McNally, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skittered
Verb
-
The clatter of rising shutters echoed through the empty streets, the occasional rambler scurried past, along the walls, bundled tightly in his coat, women walked by with milk bottles tucked in shawls wrapped around their chests.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Tirado scurried to at least half a dozen bags before finding his and pulling out … pickle juice.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Nov. 2025
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
-
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,
CBS News,
6 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
Cite this Entry
“Skittered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skittered. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
