What does skittled mean?
Skittled means discouraged, deterred, or made unwilling to proceed. The expression is especially common as "skittled by," followed by a person, difficulty, cost, risk, or other obstacle: a committee may be skittled by the complexity of a proposal, while an investor may be skittled by market uncertainty. The word has a mildly formal tone and conveys not merely temporary hesitation but a loss of confidence that affects action. In a more specialized sporting context, it can also mean knocked over in the game of bowls. Although it resembles the noun "skittles," referring to the pins used in that game, modern figurative usage makes "skittled" chiefly a word for people who have been discouraged or frightened out of taking action. It is especially useful for describing hesitation caused by perceived difficulty or risk.
Discouraged, deterred, or put off.
"The investors remained skittled by the uncertain market."
Most often used in the expression "skittled by" and typically describing fear, hesitation, or discouragement.
Past tense and past participle of skittle: to deter or discourage, or in a sporting context, to knock down the pins in the game of bowls.
"The economic uncertainty skittled the company into postponing its expansion."
The figurative transitive use is now more common than the original bowling sense.
One small change in spelling can shift the meaning completely: "skittled" means discouraged, while "skittles" are the pins knocked over in a game of bowls.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does skittled come from?
The word derives from "skittle," a term for the pins used in the game of bowls. Its familiar figurative meaning developed from the verb meaning to knock over or defeat the skittles, and later came to suggest putting someone off or frightening them out of action. The ultimate origin of "skittle" lies in Middle English, with earlier forms associated with the older vocabulary of bowling and similar games.
Related word forms
How skittled is actually used
"Skittled" is somewhat formal and most often appears in the construction "skittled by." It can suggest that fear, uncertainty, or discouragement has prevented someone from acting.
Easily confused with skittled
"Skittled" commonly means discouraged or deterred, whereas "skittles" usually refers to the pins used in the game of bowls or to the game itself.