skittish
/'skitiʃ/
Definition
- Adjective:
- Easily frightened or nervous; jumpy: Describes a tendency to be startled or alarmed by slight causes, often resulting in sudden, unpredictable movements or reactions.
- Restless; fickle; excitable: Describes a state of being lively, nervous, or capricious, making behavior hard to predict or control.
Usage
- The primary use of "skittish" describes animals, especially horses, that are nervous and prone to shying or bolting.
- It can also describe people who are nervous, easily excited, or changeable in mood or opinion.
- It implies a lack of steadiness or calmness.
Examples
- Describing animals:
- The skittish horse reared up at the sound of thunder.
- The deer are very skittish and will run at the slightest noise.
- Describing people or behavior:
- Investors became skittish after the sudden market drop.
- She gave a skittish laugh, clearly uncomfortable with the attention.
Advanced Usage
- "Skittish about (something)": Nervous or hesitant about a particular thing.
- The company is skittish about making large investments in the current economy.
- Used metaphorically to describe unstable systems or reactions.
- The skittish steering made the car difficult to control on the icy road.
Variants and Related Words
- Skittishly (adverb): In a skittish manner.
- The cat approached the new toy skittishly.
- Skittishness (noun): The quality of being skittish.
- The horse's skittishness made it unsuitable for beginner riders.
Synonyms
- Nervous: Easily agitated or alarmed.
- Jumpy: Nervous and anxious, reacting suddenly to stimuli.
- Flighty: Fickle and irresponsible, especially in moods or behavior.
- Restive: Unable to keep still or silent, especially because of boredom or impatience.
Antonyms
- Calm: Not showing or feeling nervousness, anger, or other strong emotions.
- Steady: Firmly fixed, supported, or balanced; not shaking or moving.
- Placid: Not easily upset or excited.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Like a skittish colt: Behaving in a nervously energetic or unpredictable way.
- He approached the negotiation table like a skittish colt, ready to bolt at the first sign of trouble.
Adjective
-
unpredictably excitable (especially of horses)
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