SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
skittish
adjective
Easily startled, nervous, or unsettled.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Easily startled
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topSkittish combines nervousness with readiness to startle or change direction. Flighty can instead criticize lack of steadiness or responsibility.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See skittish in use
The skittish horse stopped at the sound of a falling branch.
The tired narrator sounded irritable, reacting sharply to routine questions, and a first-time puppeteer grew skittish whenever a backstage door slammed.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license