skittishly

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Word: Skittishly

Part of Speech: Adverb

Definition: "Skittishly" means to do something in a nervous or easily frightened way. When someone or something behaves skittishly, they may seem jumpy, restless, or anxious.

Usage Instructions:

• Use "skittishly" to describe actions that show nervousness or fear.
• It often refers to animals, especially horses, but can also describe people or their behavior.

Example:

• "The horse pranced around skittishly, reacting to every little sound in the stable."

Advanced Usage:

• In more advanced contexts, "skittishly" can describe a person’s attitude or behavior in situations where they might feel insecure or uncertain. For example: "She spoke skittishly during the interview, often glancing around the room."

Word Variants:

• Skittish (adjective): Describes someone or something that is nervous or easily scared.
  • Example: "The skittish dog hid under the table during the thunderstorm."
• Skittishness (noun): The quality of being skittish.
  • Example: "His skittishness around large crowds made it hard for him to enjoy the festival."

Different Meanings:

• While "skittishly" primarily refers to nervousness, it can also describe a lack of commitment or indecisiveness in people. For example: "She skittishly changed her mind about going to the party."

Synonyms:

• Nervously
• Jumpy
• Restlessly
• Timidly
• Anxiously

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no direct idioms or phrasal verbs that include "skittishly," but you can express similar ideas with phrases like:
  • "On edge" (meaning to feel anxious or nervous)
  • "Walking on eggshells" (meaning to be very cautious about how you behave or speak)

Summary:

"Skittishly" is a useful word to describe actions or behaviors that show nervousness or apprehension.

Academic

Adverb

1. in a skittish manner
   • the horse pranced around skittishly