adj
skittish
SKIH-tihsh
Skittish (adj) means Easily frightened or startled; nervous. Example: “The horse grew skittish at the sound of thunder.”
adj
1
Easily frightened or startled; nervous.
"The horse grew skittish at the sound of thunder."
"Investors turned skittish after the market dropped."
2
Unpredictable or hard to control.
"Negotiations stalled because of the skittish political climate."
How to use skittish
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNervous, jumpy, easily spooked — used for animals, people, and even markets.
Common pairings
skittish horse
skittish investors
grow skittish
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like skittish.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Comparative
- more skittish
- Superlative
- most skittish
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The horse grew _____ at the sound of thunder.
Etymology
Probably from a Northern English/Scottish word skite ("to move suddenly and lightly") plus the suffix -ish.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
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.
