1
a
: lively or frisky in action : capricious
b
2
: easily frightened : restive
a skittish horse
skittishly
adverb
skittishness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of skittish in a Sentence
We've been skittish about taking on such a large mortgage.
the skittish colt leapt up when we approached
Recent Examples on the Web
But, unlike France, for example, British officials have been noticeably skittish about the possibility of deploying soldiers, under any scenario.
—
Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
And some lawmakers, advocates and medical experts argue that even if exceptions are in place, doctors and hospitals will remain skittish about intervening.
—Ziva Branstetter, ProPublica, 17 Jan. 2025
The report comes with markets skittish over the state of inflation and the Fed’s potential response.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 15 Jan. 2025
The cats would have been too skittish at the shelter, amid hundreds of people, and were well cared for at Pasadena Humane.
—Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for skittish 
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Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
And some lawmakers, advocates and medical experts argue that even if exceptions are in place, doctors and hospitals will remain skittish about intervening.
—Ziva Branstetter, ProPublica, 17 Jan. 2025
The report comes with markets skittish over the state of inflation and the Fed’s potential response.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 15 Jan. 2025
The cats would have been too skittish at the shelter, amid hundreds of people, and were well cared for at Pasadena Humane.
—Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for skittish
Dictionary Entries Near skittish
Cite this Entry
“Skittish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skittish. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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