skittish — easily frightened or made nervous; lively or playful
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: easily frightened or made nervous; lively or playful
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈskɪtɪʃ/
Korean meaning: 겁이 많은, 신경질적인; 활발하고 장난기 많은
Korean pronunciation: **스키**티시
Example Sentences
- My cat becomes skittish whenever the vacuum cleaner comes out.
- The stock market has been skittish due to recent economic uncertainty.
- She's still skittish about dating after her last breakup.
skittish
ADJECTIVE//ˈskɪtɪʃ//
easily frightened or made nervous; lively or playful

a graceful young deer grazes peacefully near a walking trail, ears alert and constantly moving. The deer's large eyes dart back and forth as it chews, showing constant awareness of its surroundings. Suddenly, two friendly hikers emerge from behind nearby trees, making soft rustling sounds with their footsteps. The deer immediately freezes, then springs backward in a startled jump, ready to bolt away at any moment. The hikers stop and watch carefully, recognizing the deer's nervous energy. One hiker slowly raises a hand in a gentle gesture while maintaining distance. the deer being easily frightened and made nervous by the slightest disturbance
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🌳Etymology
Origin
From Middle English 'skit' meaning 'to move quickly or lightly.' Originally described lively, playful movement, but evolved to describe nervous, easily startled behavior.
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“My cat becomes skittish whenever the vacuum cleaner comes out.”
“The stock market has been skittish due to recent economic uncertainty.”
“She's still skittish about dating after her last breakup.”
“The skittish deer ran away as soon as it saw us approach.”
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Etymology, AI images, rhymes, collocations & examples — all in one!
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