skittish
3 synonyms and 1 antonym for skittish, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Easily frightened or startled; nervous.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use skittish
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
skittish horse
skittish investors
grow skittish
Etymology
Probably from a Northern English/Scottish word skite ("to move suddenly and lightly") plus the suffix -ish.
Full origin of skittish →Frequently asked questions
What does “skittish” mean?
The word “skittish” means easily frightened or startled; nervous. In plain terms, nervous, jumpy, easily spooked — used for animals, people, and even markets.
How do you pronounce “skittish”?
“Skittish” is pronounced SKIH-tihsh (/ˈskɪtɪʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “skittish” in a sentence?
Here is “skittish” used in a sentence: “The horse grew skittish at the sound of thunder.”
What part of speech is “skittish”?
“Skittish” is an adjective.
How many meanings does “skittish” have?
“Skittish” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: easily frightened or startled; nervous.
