Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person who waits in concealment: A skulker is someone who hides or lurks, often with a secretive or furtive intent.
   • A person shirking their duty by feigning illness or incapacity: A skulker is someone who avoids work or responsibility by pretending to be sick or unable to perform a task.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The guard spotted a skulker hiding in the shadows near the gate.
  • He was known in the office as a skulker, always finding an excuse to avoid difficult assignments.

Advanced Usage

• "To be branded a skulker": To be labeled or known as someone who habitually avoids work.
  • After missing three meetings with dubious excuses, he was branded a skulker by his team.

Variants and Related Words

• Skulk (verb): To move stealthily or hide, typically with a sinister motive; to avoid work or duty.

  • The fox would skulk around the henhouse at night.
  • He tried to skulk out of his chores.

• Skulking (noun/adj): The act of lurking or hiding; characteristic of one who skulks.

  • His skulking behavior made everyone suspicious.

Synonyms

• Lurker: One who lies in wait or remains hidden.
• Shirker: One who avoids work or duty.
• Malingerer: One who feigns illness to avoid duty (specifically for the second meaning).

Related Phrases

• To skulk about/around: To move around in a stealthy, sneaking manner.
  • Reporters were skulking about, hoping for a glimpse of the celebrity.

Noun

1. someone waiting in concealment
2. someone shirking their duty by feigning illness or incapacity