1
a
: lively or frisky in action : capricious
b
2
: easily frightened : restive
a skittish horse
skittishly
adverb
skittishness
noun
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
The uncertain economic landscape, including whether there will be a 2027 season at all, may make teams extremely skittish about committing to new, long-term contracts.
—
Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts cannot manage with the confidence and verve in handling his pitching staff last October; a rickety bullpen can make a skipper look skittish.
—Andy McCullough, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
If the pet is skittish or aggressive, keep your distance and contact animal control or the nonemergency police line for help.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
What looked like a shadow at first turned out to be the dog, skittish and exhausted from wandering.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for skittish
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Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts cannot manage with the confidence and verve in handling his pitching staff last October; a rickety bullpen can make a skipper look skittish.
—Andy McCullough, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
If the pet is skittish or aggressive, keep your distance and contact animal control or the nonemergency police line for help.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
What looked like a shadow at first turned out to be the dog, skittish and exhausted from wandering.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for skittish
Cite this Entry
“Skittish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skittish. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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