skittish

USAGE SUMMARY

'skittish' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is an adjective that means easily frightened or timid. Example sentence: The skittish cat hid under the bed when I tried to pet it.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In Britain, the new chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, said on Monday that he would push through £6 billion ($8.65 billion) in spending cuts in an effort to convince skittish markets that the new government led by David Cameron was committed to fiscal restraint.

The New York Times

Former colleagues question her decision to quit at the point of a ceasefire, the suggestion being that she is skittish.

The Guardian

While Rome is Federer's "losingest" tournament, with 15 ducks from 15 innings (and three futile finals), in dismissing the skittish Czech for the 14th time he confirmed he is in excellent fettle.

The Guardian - Sport

Measured but never bloodless, ranging from skittish to melancholy, it was a fittingly virtuoso way to close an evening that underlined the Academy's reputation for musical excellence.

The Guardian

Nothing could be more rugged than the archive images of the mountaineer George Mallory preparing to tackle Everest in stout tweed suit and brown boots – and nothing more skittish than his newly discovered letters to the writer and leading member of the Bloomsbury set, Lytton Strachey.

The Guardian

"Major European and American multinationals will be very skittish to jump into the Iranian market.

The Guardian

To make things even more unlikely, it's been written and produced by Ben Jacobs (AKA experimental pop auteur Max Tundra) and it's fantastic: an icy synthpop number that incorporates skittish beats and lyrical references to David Foster Wallace's novel Infinite Jest and Joni Mitchell's Court and Spark, while retaining the playfulness of the duo's original hits.

The Guardian - Music

Gentle synth and piano lines start to squiggle and squelch, rhythms become skittish and then collapses into a lull and Nzaramba's voice shimmers through the haze; for the most part, there aren't really what you'd call songs, rather an assembly of melodies and ideas that coalesce for a short period before heading off to enjoy different vistas.

The Guardian - Music

A top-notch credit rating counts for much, particularly in skittish markets like Japan, where local insurers are chronically weak.

The Economist

This is skittish money that can be gone in a trice.Banks in vulnerable countries have already found money-market funding harder to come by, or at least dearer.

The Economist

For those who considered France too restive, conservative or skittish for change, Mr Sarkozy's victory suggests otherwise.Second, the crushing defeat of the hard-left parties robs the biggest union, the Communist-backed Confédération Générale du Travail (CGT), of some of its force.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing people, "skittish" implies a temporary state of nervousness or fear, especially in unfamiliar situations. Use it to show how environments affect behavior.

Common error

While both words can describe someone who avoids interaction, "skittish" suggests a fear response to a specific situation, whereas "shy" implies a general personality trait.

Linguistic Context

"Skittish" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe a state of being easily frightened, nervous, or restless. Ludwig AI confirms this, showing numerous examples where "skittish" modifies entities like 'markets', 'investors', or 'animals'.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Formal & Business

32%

Science

4%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "skittish" is a versatile adjective used to describe a state of being easily frightened or nervous, particularly in response to specific stimuli. Ludwig AI examples show that "skittish" commonly appears in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts, often relating to markets, investors, or political actors. The term carries a neutral to professional register and is considered grammatically correct. When using "skittish", be mindful of its specific connotation of reactive fear, differentiating it from general shyness or simple cautiousness. The provided related phrases such as "nervous" or "jumpy" offer suitable alternatives depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nervous

A general term for feeling anxious or apprehensive.

jumpy

Describes someone who reacts strongly to sudden stimuli.

easily frightened

Focuses on the ease with which someone or something is scared.

timid

Characterizes someone who lacks courage or confidence.

on edge

Implies a state of heightened tension and alertness.

apprehensive

Suggests a feeling of anxiety or dread about the future.

uneasy

Describes a feeling of discomfort or anxiety.

hesitant

Implies a reluctance or unwillingness to do something.

fidgety

Describes someone who is unable to keep still, often due to nervousness.

restless

Suggests an inability to stay still or be content.

FAQs

How can I use "skittish" in a sentence?

You can use "skittish" to describe someone or something that is easily frightened or nervous, such as "The horse was skittish around the loud noises".

What can I say instead of "skittish"?

You can use alternatives like "nervous", "jumpy", or "timid" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "skittish" or "squeamish"?

"Skittish" describes being easily frightened or nervous, while "squeamish" describes being easily disgusted or made faint. They are not interchangeable.

What's the difference between "skittish" and "cautious"?

"Skittish" implies a reactive fear or nervousness, while "cautious" suggests a deliberate approach to avoid potential danger or problems.