adj

skittish

SKIH-tihsh

Skittish (adj) means Easily frightened or startled; nervous. Example: “The horse grew skittish at the sound of thunder.”

adj

Easily frightened or startled; nervous.

"The horse grew skittish at the sound of thunder."

"Investors turned skittish after the market dropped."

Unpredictable or hard to control.

"Negotiations stalled because of the skittish political climate."

How to use skittish

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishNervous, jumpy, easily spooked — used for animals, people, and even markets.

Common pairings

skittish horse skittish investors grow skittish

Word forms

more skittish comparative, most skittish superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “skittish” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

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.

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.