skulk 1 of 2

Definition of skulknext
1
as in to lurk
to move about in a sly or secret manner I thought I saw someone skulking about in the shadows

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2
as in to hide
to remain out of sight the animal control officers caught the stray cat that had been skulking behind some trash cans

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

skulk

2 of 2

noun

as in weasel
someone who acts in a sly and secret manner were surprised to discover the skulk stealing from the garden was a raccoon

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word skulk distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of skulk are lurk, slink, and sneak. While all these words mean "to behave so as to escape attention," skulk suggests more strongly cowardice or fear or sinister intent.

something skulking in the shadows

When is it sensible to use lurk instead of skulk?

While in some cases nearly identical to skulk, lurk implies a lying in wait in a place of concealment and often suggests an evil intent.

suspicious men lurking in alleyways

Where would slink be a reasonable alternative to skulk?

The synonyms slink and skulk are sometimes interchangeable, but slink implies moving stealthily often merely to escape attention.

slunk around the corner

In what contexts can sneak take the place of skulk?

The words sneak and skulk can be used in similar contexts, but sneak may add an implication of entering or leaving a place or evading a difficulty by furtive or underhanded methods.

sneaked out early

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 skulk
Verb
The Serious-Minded Coach would hide behind the cloak of plausible deniability and let his agent do the dirty work before skulking out of town to his next gig. Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 28 Nov. 2025 Soon after My Bloody Valentine skulked into the Wembley Arena spotlights, the initial roar of some 12,000 fans abated. Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 28 Nov. 2025 No longer limited to skulking around on a bar cart, metallic finishes like aluminum and brass are in the midst of a dazzling comeback. Kathryn O’Shea-Evans, Robb Report, 9 Nov. 2025 The seeds of the love triangle between Robert, Blazer, and Invisigal are firmly planted now and ready to bloom into a total shitshow — especially with the blonde hero’s recent breakup with her boyfriend Phenomaman, who’s skulking about in a deep depression. Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for skulk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skulk
Verb
  • But hey, this was the '90s, when being weird for weird's sake was a thing, and a creepy animatronic penguin lurking in the shadows and terrorizing humans in a variety of '90s-ish noir settings is definitely that.
    Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Feb. 2026
  • Expecting to find traces of the past in the old town of Regensburg, at first, archaeologists believed nothing that exciting lurked here.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 8 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • This means that bills get hearings, debates happen in public, and legislators are required to vote on issues instead of hiding behind process.
    Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Maybe Mark Kelly and several other dissident members of Congress are hiding the sun in a big bag.
    Alexandra Petri, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The little animals that will come to be emblematic of the 2026 Games are stoats, extremely cute critters that in real life are related to the weasel and the otter.
    Mark Scaglione, NBC news, 3 Feb. 2026
  • The species is the largest member of the mustelid family, which includes otters, weasels and badgers, and is known for its ferocity and elusive nature.
    Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 12 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Nasir Khan, a scrawny Pakistani American college student living with his parents in Queens, sneaks out and drives his dad’s taxi to a party in Manhattan.
    Stephanie Bai, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2026
  • Bhansali has to scan all of his diamonds — millions per year — to make sure no lab-growns have been snuck in the mix.
    Chris Livesay, CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Dani Moshe owns Miami Discount Center, which lies half a block south, and struggled to survive with the road closed for almost two years.
    Larry Seward, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Gomis’ complex, patient scene construction lets such tensions lie and ripple and occasionally erupt, though there’s always too much going on for any single mini-drama to pull focus.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • But toads and frogs are also prey animals for owls, hawks, skunks, opossums, and raccoons.
    Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 6 Feb. 2026
  • At night, the desert comes alive with coyote howls, prowling skunks and the possibility of larger cats or black bears nearby.
    Joan Meiners, AZCentral.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Home life seems to be a joy to be around too when Robbie recalled a time when the couple had to face snakes—one of Ackerley’s biggest fears.
    Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 12 Feb. 2026
  • Skiers can get the latest snow report with a touch of a button on their phones these days, but nothing beats watching snow pile up on a traditional snow snake, which is why Colorado’s ski resorts keep them around — and film them with 24-hour webcams.
    The Know, Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Skulk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skulk. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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