What does skittishly mean?
Skittishly means in a nervous, timid, or overly cautious way. It is especially useful for describing someone who is alert to possible danger and may startle, withdraw, or hesitate at small signs of trouble. The adverb often appears with verbs such as look, glance, move, and stir, and it can apply to people, animals, and occasionally groups or institutions. Its tone ranges from mildly descriptive to faintly critical: describing a startled horse as moving skittishly is usually neutral, while calling someone who avoids responsibility skittishly suggests excessive timidity. The word is understood in both British and American English and is more expressive than simply saying that someone acted nervously, because it also conveys watchfulness and readiness to flee or withdraw.
adverbIn a nervous, timid, or excessively cautious manner, often as a reaction to uncertainty or possible danger.
- In a nervous, timid, or wary manner, especially as a reaction to uncertainty, fear, or possible danger.
"The horse raised its head and looked at the unfamiliar crowd skittishly."
"The child looked skittishly toward the dark doorway."
"After the interruption, she answered the question skittishly and avoided making eye contact."
Skittishly captures the distinctive way someone or something behaves when nervous, alert, and ready to retreat at the slightest sign of trouble.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does skittishly come from?
The adverb was formed by adding the suffix -ly to the adjective skittish. The adjective developed from an older Middle English form associated with timidity and nervous hesitation. The related noun skittishness preserves the same lexical root and is used to describe a person's or animal's nervous disposition.
Related word forms
How skittishly is actually used
The adverb is usually used to describe cautious or nervous behavior. It can be mildly critical when describing excessive fear or hesitation.