skittish
adjective
apt to start or shy.
skittishness
-
a word derived from
skittish.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The timers’ skittishness suggests that their optimism is a mile wide but only an inch deep.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 7, 2026
Here, he is crowned and brandishing a scepter, but the skittishness toward the ultimate reality of life — its unavoidable end — makes him a heightened version of all of us.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 13, 2026
But like the rest of the economy, the sector was not spared the knock-on effects of the war, which began in October 2023 and led to staffing shortages and skittishness from would-be backers.
From Barron's ● Feb. 21, 2026
The sudden widening of the discount reflects buyers’ skittishness after U.S. warnings of potential secondary sanctions, which would target those doing business with sanctioned entities.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 21, 2025
For horses, herd animals alert to clues of danger from each other, skittishness is contagious.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
