as in anxiety
a state of nervousness marked by sudden jerky movements
because of the horse's skittishness and temperamental nature, only experienced riders should ride him
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Recent Examples of skittishness
Her singular blend of severity and skittishness is unrivalled in the poetry of her peers.
—
Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
If Monday’s recovery can shake off the skittishness felt during Friday’s rough market reversal .
—John Melloy, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2025
Lewis says his skittishness stems from a fear that competitors will copy Darrow’s model, and from sensitivity around ethical rules about sharing attorneys’ fees with non-lawyers.
—Jeff Kauflin, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Others think the frugality signals economic skittishness.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 11 Aug. 2025
Allen hosting Black celebrities like Diahann Carroll despite network skittishness.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2025
Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
If Monday’s recovery can shake off the skittishness felt during Friday’s rough market reversal .
—John Melloy, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2025
Lewis says his skittishness stems from a fear that competitors will copy Darrow’s model, and from sensitivity around ethical rules about sharing attorneys’ fees with non-lawyers.
—Jeff Kauflin, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Others think the frugality signals economic skittishness.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 11 Aug. 2025
Allen hosting Black celebrities like Diahann Carroll despite network skittishness.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skittishness
Noun
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That driving tension and anxiety are largely thanks to the team of artisans, which included composer Volker Bertelmann, editor Kirk Baxter and sound designer Paul Ottosson, who worked closely behind the scenes on their respective crafts to bring it together.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
25 Oct. 2025
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That sense of anxiety is present throughout the book, most vividly in a wide shot of a group of cheerleaders rehearsing in a gym.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Shanahan, the head coach in Washington from 2010 to 2013, once grilled Paulsen on offensive tackle protections out of worry the tight end might have to play emergency tackle in a preseason game.—
Jourdan Rodrigue,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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Those worries resulted in a European bank stock selloff last week, although the sector quickly rebounded.—
Tasmin Lockwood,
CNBC,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Unlike past contests, this vote has unfolded against a backdrop of deep sociopolitical unease and visible youth engagement.—
Amindeh Blaise Atabong,
semafor.com,
27 Oct. 2025
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This shift, unprecedented in modern Japanese history, has prompted unease among nationalist groups and some conservative politicians.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
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His jumpiness in the pocket, decision-making and lack of deep passes are a cause for concern, potentially.—
Chase Gemes,
Kansas City Star,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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As estrogen decreases during menopause, nerves in the hypothalamus — an almond-size region deep inside the brain whose functions include helping regulate the body’s thermostat — become hyperactive and produce an overabundance of chemical signals called neurokinins.—
Jacqueline Howard,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
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In these conditions, the gut’s nerves and the brain’s emotion-processing circuits are in unusually close communication.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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For some, the jolt can lead to jitteriness, anxiety, or even disrupted sleep.—
Mira Miller,
Verywell Health,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Asthma treatments Some asthma medications open airways by relaxing muscles, but their side effects include jitteriness and restlessness, which are similar to caffeine’s.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
5 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
That marked a significant cooling of tensions, after a recent volley of tariff threats and fresh export curbs threatened to derail the bilateral relationship.—
Bloomberg,
Fortune,
27 Oct. 2025
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After the Hamas attacks on Southern Israel on October 7, 2023, tensions rise inside and outside the couple’s home.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Carpenter, eye-catching in a glittery fringe dress, couldn’t help but exude a certain edginess onstage at the Opry House, even if the 26-year-old left out some of her favorite swear words.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
8 Oct. 2025
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Borrowing from the flamboyance of the New Romantics, the edginess of punks and the melancholic themes in their music, goth makeup was dark, vampiric, and vaguely dangerous—an aesthetic music fans copied when gathering at goth haunts like the Batcave in London.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Skittishness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skittishness. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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