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.
Issuance of new software leveraged loans tumbled in 2026, signaling a skittishness about bank lending in the sector, but also creating less supply for investors to digest.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026
Their rise followed a volatile week of trading fueled by skittishness about the AI boom.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 2026
Laurie Bodisch, a financial advisor and founder of Her Wealth Coach in Boiling Springs, Pa., says she has seen skittishness among older adults who lived through the Great Depression and their offspring.
From Barron's ● Jan. 22, 2026
On a broader scale, there’s investor skittishness over any U.S.-linked assets and securities.
From Slate ● Apr. 11, 2025
For horses, herd animals alert to clues of danger from each other, skittishness is contagious.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
