adj
squirrelly
SKWIH-ruh-lee
adj
1
Nervous, jumpy, or erratic in behaviour.
"He got squirrelly whenever the police were mentioned."
2
Unpredictable or hard to control, as of a vehicle or situation.
"The car felt squirrelly on the icy road."
How to Use Squirrelly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishJittery, unpredictable, or hard to control.
When to use it
Informal American English.
Word Forms
squirrellier comparative, more squirrelly comparative, squirrelliest superlative, most squirrelly superlative
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “squirrelly”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
He got _____ whenever the police were mentioned.
Etymology
From squirrel + -ly, first recorded around 1925, likely inspired by squirrels' erratic darting movements.