Meaning & use
skittish
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Easily frightened or startled, especially describing an animal that jumps at small sounds or movements.
Grammar: Used before a noun or after be: a skittish horse.
Patterns
- a skittish horse
- be skittish around something
The skittish colt bolted at the sound of the gate.
Deer are skittish and vanish at the slightest noise.
The stray cat was too skittish to let anyone near.
adjectivecomparable
Nervous, unsure and quick to change course, said of a person.
Grammar: Often followed by about: skittish about commitment.
Patterns
- skittish about something
He grew skittish about getting engaged.
She was skittish before the interview and kept checking her notes.
The crowd was skittish after the loud bang.
adjectivecomparablefinancefigurative
Quick to react with worry to news or uncertainty, said of markets or investors.
Grammar: Used before nouns like market or investor: skittish investors.
Patterns
- skittish investors
- a skittish market
Skittish investors sold shares at the first hint of bad news.
The market turned skittish after the rate announcement.
Banks became skittish about lending to small firms.
Word forms
| comparative | more skittish |
|---|---|
| superlative | most skittish |
Common combinations
- skittish horse
- A skittish horse needs a calm rider.
- skittish investors
- Skittish investors withdrew their money.
- skittish about
- He is skittish about flying.
- grow skittish
- The market grew skittish before the vote.
- easily skittish
- The puppy is easily skittish around strangers.
Synonyms and how they differ
- jumpy
- Jumpy is more informal and describes being startled easily, while skittish suggests a tendency to bolt or back away.
- nervous
- Nervous is general and can describe a mild worry, while skittish implies sudden, flighty reactions.
- timid
- Timid describes shy and lacking in courage, whereas skittish describes quick, unpredictable reactions.
- edgy
- Edgy suggests being tense and irritable, while skittish suggests being easily startled into flight.
Opposites
Word family
- skittishly adverb
- in a nervous, easily startled way
- skittishness noun
- the state of being easily scared
- skitter verb
- to move quickly and lightly
Commonly confused: skittish or skittles?
skittish vs skittles
Skittles is a game with pins knocked down by a ball and also a candy brand; it has no link to being nervous.
Practice
The horse was so ______ that even a plastic bag blowing past made it rear up.
Choose one answer.
Skittish means easily frightened, which explains rearing at a small movement. Stubborn describes refusing to obey, which would not explain a fright reaction.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “skittish”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.