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
OpenAI’s apparent skittishness about an IPO may turn out to be company specific, and not a sign that the parade of unicorns coming to Wall Street is about to end.
From Barron's ● Jun. 26, 2026
Such skittishness pervades every step of the off-site development process, said Apoorva Pasricha, chief operation officer at Cloud Apartments, a San Francisco-based start-up.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 14, 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
